Overview
SAWYER LAGOON is a secondary treatment plant serving Sawyer, North Dakota. It discharges treated wastewater into local waterways, supporting the community's sanitation needs.
SAWYER LAGOON is a wastewater treatment facility located in Sawyer, Ward County, North Dakota, United States. The plant serves a small population of approximately 357 residents, providing essential wastewater treatment for this rural community. The facility operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater. The plant has a designed capacity of 75.71 volume units, and its current discharge volume matches this capacity, indicating full utilization. As a lagoon-based system, it likely uses natural biological processes to treat wastewater before discharge. The treated effluent from SAWYER LAGOON is discharged into local surface waters, which eventually drain into the Souris River basin. This river system flows north into Canada and ultimately into Hudson Bay. The plant's operations are regulated under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, ensuring compliance with water quality standards to protect downstream ecosystems.
Environmental context
SAWYER LAGOON discharges into local streams that feed the Souris River, which flows northward through North Dakota into Manitoba, Canada, and eventually into Hudson Bay. The Souris River basin supports diverse aquatic life and provides habitat for migratory birds. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids, protecting water quality in this sensitive prairie watershed.
Frequently asked questions
SAWYER LAGOON is located at 1st Street East in Sawyer, Ward County, North Dakota, United States.
SAWYER LAGOON serves approximately 357 residents in the community of Sawyer, North Dakota.
SAWYER LAGOON discharges treated effluent into local surface waters that flow into the Souris River basin, which drains northward into Canada and eventually into Hudson Bay.
SAWYER LAGOON operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act and is regulated through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which sets discharge limits to protect water quality.
For small communities in the U.S., secondary treatment is the standard requirement under the Clean Water Act. Lagoons are a common cost-effective technology for small populations, providing biological treatment through natural processes.
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