MOOSE LAKE STP Wastewater Treatment Plant, Moose Lake, Minnesota

MOOSE LAKE STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Moose Lake, Minnesota, serving a population of about 2,853. The plant is situated in Carlton County, part of the state's northeastern region, and is managed as part of the local public infrastructure. As a small agglomeration under U.S. regulations, the plant is subject to EPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting requirements. Facilities of this scale typically employ secondary treatment processes to meet Clean Water Act standards, ensuring adequate removal of organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the Moose Horn River watershed, which flows into the St. Louis River and ultimately reaches Lake Superior. This makes the plant's performance important for protecting the water quality of the Lake Superior basin, a vital freshwater resource supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems and regional drinking water supplies.

The plant discharges into the Moose Horn River, a tributary of the St. Louis River, which flows into Lake Superior, the largest of the Great Lakes. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including cold-water fish species, and provides habitat for migratory birds. Protecting water quality in this basin is critical for maintaining the ecological health of Lake Superior and downstream ecosystems.