Sand Lake Lagoons Wastewater Treatment Plant, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Sand Lake Lagoons is a wastewater treatment facility located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, within the United States. The plant serves a small population of 370 residents and operates as a lagoon-based secondary treatment system. Its designed capacity is 189.27 megaliters, with an annual discharge volume of 151.42 megaliters. As a secondary treatment plant, Sand Lake Lagoons meets the standard requirements under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which mandates secondary treatment for municipal wastewater. The plant is regulated under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). The treated effluent from Sand Lake Lagoons is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Grand River, which flows into Lake Michigan. This connection to the Great Lakes ecosystem underscores the importance of effective treatment to protect water quality and aquatic habitats in the region.

Sand Lake Lagoons discharges into the Grand River watershed, which flows into Lake Michigan, part of the Great Lakes system. The Grand River supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for fish. Protecting water quality in this watershed is critical for maintaining the ecological health of Lake Michigan and its tributaries.