Richfield Lagoons Wastewater Treatment Plant, Richfield, Idaho

Richfield Lagoons is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Richfield, Lincoln County, Idaho. The plant serves a small population of about 482 residents, reflecting the rural character of the area. It operates under the regulatory framework of the United States Clean Water Act, administered by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required for most municipal facilities under the Clean Water Act. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The plant has a designed capacity of 223.34 megaliters and currently discharges 132.49 megaliters annually, indicating it operates below its full capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that eventually drain into the Snake River basin, a major tributary of the Columbia River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and agricultural activities. Proper treatment helps protect downstream water quality and ecosystems in the arid region of southern Idaho.

The plant's discharge enters local streams that flow into the Snake River, a major tributary of the Columbia River. The Snake River basin supports important fisheries, including salmon and steelhead, and provides irrigation for agriculture. The arid climate of southern Idaho makes water quality management critical for both ecological health and human use.