NEKOMA LAGOON Wastewater Treatment Plant, Nekoma, North Dakota

NEKOMA LAGOON is a wastewater treatment facility located in Nekoma, Cavalier County, North Dakota. It serves a small community of approximately 50 residents, reflecting the rural character of the area. The plant operates as a lagoon system, a common treatment approach for small populations in the region. The facility provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the US Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater. With a designed capacity of 37.85 cubic meters per day and a discharge volume matching that figure, the plant operates at full capacity. As a small system, it falls under state-level NPDES permitting, typically administered by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality. The treated effluent is discharged into local surface waters, likely a nearby stream or wetland that drains into the Souris River basin. The Souris River flows north into Canada, eventually reaching Hudson Bay. This watershed supports agricultural land use and provides habitat for waterfowl and aquatic species. Proper treatment helps protect downstream water quality in this transboundary basin.

The plant discharges into a local watercourse that is part of the Souris River basin, which flows northward through North Dakota into Manitoba, Canada, and ultimately into Hudson Bay. This watershed is ecologically important for migratory birds and supports agricultural irrigation. The secondary treatment process reduces organic pollutants and suspended solids, helping to maintain water quality in this rural, prairie environment.