MAX LAGOON Wastewater Treatment Plant, McLean County, North Dakota

MAX LAGOON is a wastewater treatment facility located in McLean County, North Dakota, United States. The plant serves a small population of 334 residents and operates under secondary treatment standards, which is the minimum required by the US Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater facilities. The plant has a designed capacity of 151.42 million gallons per year and currently discharges 75.71 million gallons annually, indicating it operates well below its capacity. As a US facility, it is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the state of North Dakota, which regulate effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Missouri River basin. This region is part of the larger Mississippi River watershed, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's location in a rural, inland area means its discharge contributes to local stream flows and supports downstream aquatic habitats.

The plant discharges into receiving waters that are part of the Missouri River watershed, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. This region supports diverse aquatic life and is important for migratory birds. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids, protecting downstream ecosystems from nutrient enrichment and oxygen depletion.