Overview
Petersburg Lagoon is a secondary wastewater treatment plant serving 192 people in Petersburg, North Dakota. It discharges 75.71 units of treated effluent into the local watershed.
Petersburg Lagoon is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Petersburg, Nelson County, North Dakota. It serves a small population of 192 residents, reflecting the rural character of the area. The plant is situated in the northern Great Plains region, where cold winters and low population density shape infrastructure needs. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater. Under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), facilities of this scale must meet effluent limits for biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids. The designed capacity of 75.71 units matches the current discharge volume, indicating the plant operates at full capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body that ultimately drains into the Red River of the North, which flows northward into Lake Winnipeg in Canada. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is part of a larger basin that includes wetlands and agricultural lands. Proper treatment helps protect downstream water quality and ecosystem health.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a tributary of the Red River of the North, which flows into Lake Winnipeg, a large freshwater lake in Manitoba, Canada. The Red River Basin is characterized by flat terrain and seasonal flooding, which can affect nutrient transport. The watershed supports migratory birds and fish species, making nutrient and pathogen removal important for downstream ecological balance.
Frequently asked questions
Petersburg Lagoon is located on 1st Avenue in Petersburg, Nelson County, North Dakota, United States.
The plant serves a population of 192 residents in the rural community of Petersburg.
The plant discharges treated effluent into a local water body that is part of the Red River of the North watershed, which ultimately flows into Lake Winnipeg.
As a U.S. facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, which set effluent limits for secondary treatment.
Small plants like this typically use lagoon systems or package plants providing secondary treatment, which meets EPA standards for BOD and TSS removal.
Nearby plants