New England Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant, New England, North Dakota

New England Lagoon is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in New England, North Dakota, serving a small population of 600 residents. The facility is situated in the rural landscape of Hettinger County and provides essential sanitation services to the community. The plant employs secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the US Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater facilities. With a designed capacity of 264.98 megaliters per year and an annual discharge volume of 227.13 megaliters, the plant operates well within its capacity. As a small facility, it is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Missouri River basin. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream water quality in this agriculturally intensive region of the Great Plains, where surface waters are vital for irrigation, livestock, and wildlife.

The plant discharges into tributaries of the Heart River, which flows into the Missouri River and eventually the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico. The surrounding watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is an important resource for agriculture and recreation in western North Dakota. Proper treatment helps prevent nutrient pollution and protects downstream ecosystems.