Overview
Ten Sleep Lagoon is a secondary treatment plant serving 460 people in Ten Sleep, Wyoming. It discharges 113.56 megaliters annually and has a designed capacity of 757.08 megaliters.
Ten Sleep Lagoon is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Ten Sleep, Washakie County, Wyoming, United States. The plant serves a small population of 460 residents, reflecting the rural character of the Big Horn Basin region. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for small communities under the U.S. Clean Water Act. It has a designed capacity of 757.08 megaliters and an annual discharge volume of 113.56 megaliters. As a lagoon system, it relies on natural biological processes to treat wastewater before discharge. The treated effluent is released into the local watershed, which drains into the Big Horn River and ultimately the Yellowstone River-Missouri River system. This waterway supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional agriculture and recreation.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Big Horn River basin, which flows northward to join the Yellowstone River in Montana. The Yellowstone River then empties into the Missouri River, a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The watershed supports a variety of fish species, including trout, and provides habitat for migratory birds. The semi-arid climate of Wyoming makes water quality management critical for maintaining ecosystem health and downstream uses.
Frequently asked questions
Ten Sleep Lagoon is located in Ten Sleep, Washakie County, Wyoming, United States, in the Big Horn Basin region.
The plant serves a population of 460 residents, typical of a small rural community in Wyoming.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the local watershed, which drains into the Big Horn River and eventually the Yellowstone-Missouri River system.
As a U.S. facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act, with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality.
Small communities like Ten Sleep often use lagoon systems providing secondary treatment, which is the minimum standard under the Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater.
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