IONE LAGOON Wastewater Treatment Plant, Pend Oreille County, Washington

IONE LAGOON is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Pend Oreille County, Washington, United States. The plant serves a small population of 215 residents, providing secondary treatment to meet state and federal water quality standards. As a secondary treatment plant, IONE LAGOON uses biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The facility has a designed capacity of 151.42 cubic meters per day and currently discharges approximately 75.71 cubic meters per day, indicating it operates well within its capacity. The plant is regulated under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all point source discharges. The treated effluent from IONE LAGOON is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Pend Oreille River. This river flows into the Columbia River, a major waterway in the Pacific Northwest that supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for irrigation, recreation, and hydropower. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect downstream water quality and aquatic habitats.

The plant discharges into the Pend Oreille River basin, which flows into the Columbia River and eventually reaches the Pacific Ocean. The Pend Oreille River supports a variety of fish species, including trout and salmon, and the surrounding wetlands provide important habitat for migratory birds. Secondary treatment reduces nutrient loads and organic pollutants, helping to maintain the ecological health of this river system.