RAY LAGOON Wastewater Treatment Plant, Ray, North Dakota

RAY LAGOON is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Ray, North Dakota, United States. The plant serves a small population of 592 residents in this rural community within Williams County. It operates as a secondary treatment facility, which is the standard level required under the US Clean Water Act for most municipal plants. The plant has a designed capacity of 227.12 cubic meters per day and currently discharges an average of 189.27 cubic meters per day, indicating it operates below its design capacity. As a secondary treatment plant, it uses biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids, meeting the effluent quality standards set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The treated effluent from RAY LAGOON is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Missouri River basin. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting downstream water quality by reducing pollutant loads before discharge. Its location in the Great Plains region means the receiving waters support agricultural and ecological uses, making proper treatment essential for maintaining aquatic health.

RAY LAGOON discharges into the Missouri River watershed, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. The receiving waters in this semi-arid region support diverse aquatic life and are important for irrigation and livestock watering. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic loads, mitigating potential eutrophication downstream.