Maddock Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant, Maddock, North Dakota

Maddock Lagoon is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Maddock, North Dakota, a small town in Benson County. The plant serves a population of approximately 382 residents, reflecting its role as a community-scale treatment system for this rural area. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for small communities in the United States. With a designed capacity of 681.37 cubic meters per day and a current discharge volume of 151.42 cubic meters per day, the facility operates well below its capacity. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, such plants are typically permitted through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), administered by the state of North Dakota, ensuring compliance with effluent limits. The treated wastewater from Maddock Lagoon is discharged into local surface waters, which ultimately drain into the Souris River basin. This river system flows north into Canada and is part of the larger Hudson Bay drainage. The plant's operation helps protect downstream aquatic habitats and supports the ecological health of the region's prairie waterways.

Maddock Lagoon discharges into local streams that feed into the Souris River, a major waterway in the northern Great Plains. The Souris River flows through North Dakota and into Manitoba, Canada, eventually reaching Hudson Bay. The surrounding watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for migratory birds. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic loads, mitigating potential impacts on downstream ecosystems.