MAKOTI LAGOON Wastewater Treatment Plant, Makoti, North Dakota

MAKOTI LAGOON is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Makoti, North Dakota, serving a small population of 154 residents. The plant is situated in Ward County, within the rural landscape of the state's northwestern region. The facility provides secondary treatment, a standard level for small communities in the United States. With a designed capacity of 37.85 million gallons per year, it operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all discharges. For plants of this scale, typical permit conditions include effluent limits for biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids. The treated effluent is discharged to a receiving water body that ultimately drains into the Missouri River watershed. This basin supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agricultural and recreational uses downstream. The plant's location more than 10 km from the coast reduces direct marine impact, but its discharge contributes to the overall water quality of the regional river system.

The plant discharges into a waterway that flows into the Missouri River basin, which eventually reaches the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports a variety of fish species and provides critical habitat for migratory birds. The region's semi-arid climate means that maintaining water quality is essential for both ecological health and human uses such as irrigation and recreation.