Walcott Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant, Walcott, North Dakota

Walcott Lagoon is a wastewater treatment facility located in Walcott, North Dakota, serving a small population of 235 residents. The plant is situated in Richland County and operates as a lagoon system, typical for rural communities in the region. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater. With a designed capacity of 75.71 cubic meters per day and an average discharge volume of 37.85 cubic meters per day, the facility operates well within its capacity, ensuring effective treatment for the local community. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Red River of the North, which flows northward into Lake Winnipeg in Canada. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for waterfowl. The plant's performance helps protect downstream water quality in this sensitive basin.

Walcott Lagoon discharges into tributaries of the Red River of the North, which flows into Lake Winnipeg. The Red River Basin is a flat, agricultural region prone to seasonal flooding, and its waters support fish species such as walleye and northern pike. Protecting this watershed is critical for maintaining water quality in Lake Winnipeg, which experiences algal blooms from nutrient pollution.