Minot Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant, Minot, North Dakota

Minot Lagoon is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Minot, Ward County, North Dakota, United States. The plant serves a population of approximately 41,118 residents, placing it in the medium-sized agglomeration category for US wastewater infrastructure. As a US facility, Minot Lagoon operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting requirements. For plants serving populations of this size, secondary treatment is typically required to meet effluent quality standards before discharge. Regulatory expectations for this population tier are well-established. The plant's treated effluent ultimately drains into the Souris River basin, which flows north into Canada and eventually into Hudson Bay. The Souris River supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agricultural and municipal uses in the region. The plant's operations are critical for protecting downstream water quality in this transboundary watershed.

Minot Lagoon discharges into the Souris River, which flows northward through North Dakota into Manitoba, Canada, and eventually reaches Hudson Bay via the Nelson River system. The Souris River basin supports a variety of fish species and provides habitat for migratory birds along the Central Flyway. The plant's effluent management is important for maintaining water quality in this ecologically sensitive prairie river system.