LANKIN LAGOON Wastewater Treatment Plant, Walsh County, North Dakota

LANKIN LAGOON is a wastewater treatment facility located in Walsh County, North Dakota, serving a small rural community. The plant provides secondary treatment for a population of approximately 98 residents, typical of lagoon-based systems in the region. As a secondary treatment facility, LANKIN LAGOON uses biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The plant has a designed capacity of 75.71 volume units and discharges a similar volume, indicating full utilization. Under the US Clean Water Act, such facilities operate under National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the state of North Dakota, which set effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent from LANKIN LAGOON is discharged into local streams that flow into the Red River of the North, which eventually drains into Lake Winnipeg in Canada. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional agriculture and recreation. The plant's operation helps maintain water quality in this sensitive basin.

The plant discharges into the Red River Basin, which flows northward into Lake Winnipeg. This watershed is ecologically significant, supporting fish species such as walleye and northern pike, and providing habitat for migratory birds. The Red River is prone to nutrient loading, making effective wastewater treatment crucial for preventing algal blooms and maintaining downstream water quality.