RYDER LAGOON Wastewater Treatment Plant, Ward County, North Dakota

RYDER LAGOON is a wastewater treatment facility located in Ward County, North Dakota, serving a small population of 85 residents. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for small communities in the United States, ensuring compliance with federal Clean Water Act requirements. The plant has a designed capacity of 37.85 megaliters per year and discharges a similar volume annually. As a small-scale facility, it operates under the US EPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. Its regulatory framework ensures environmental safeguards. Treated wastewater from RYDER LAGOON likely discharges to a local water body within the Missouri River basin, which ultimately drains to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The plant plays a role in protecting downstream aquatic ecosystems by reducing pollutant loads before discharge.

RYDER LAGOON discharges into a local water body within the Missouri River watershed, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. The region's semi-arid climate and agricultural land use mean that maintaining water quality is critical for downstream ecosystems, including fish habitats and migratory bird routes. The plant's secondary treatment helps mitigate nutrient and pathogen impacts on receiving waters.