Hillsboro Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant, Hillsboro, North Dakota

Hillsboro Lagoon is a wastewater treatment facility located in Hillsboro, North Dakota, serving a population of approximately 1,603 residents. The plant operates as a lagoon system providing secondary treatment, which is typical for small communities in the region. Its designed capacity of 1,211.33 units indicates it can handle peak flows, with current discharge volumes at 605.67 units. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act, administered by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality. As a secondary treatment facility, it meets the minimum federal requirements for municipal wastewater treatment, ensuring that effluent quality standards are maintained to protect public health and the environment. The treated effluent from Hillsboro Lagoon is discharged into local waterways that eventually drain into the Red River of the North, which flows north into Canada and ultimately into Lake Winnipeg. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for birds. The plant's operations help maintain water quality in this sensitive basin.

Hillsboro Lagoon discharges into the Red River of the North basin, which flows northward through Manitoba, Canada, into Lake Winnipeg. This watershed is ecologically significant, supporting a variety of fish species and providing critical habitat for migratory waterfowl. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads, protecting downstream water quality in this sensitive prairie ecosystem.