Overview
Wamsutter Lagoon is a secondary treatment plant serving 1,751 people in Wamsutter, Wyoming. It discharges 492.10 megaliters annually with a design capacity of 567.81 megaliters.
Wamsutter Lagoon is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Wamsutter, Sweetwater County, Wyoming. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,751 residents in this small inland community, operating as a lagoon-based secondary treatment system. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal facilities. With a design capacity of 567.81 megaliters and an annual discharge volume of 492.10 megaliters, the plant operates below its full capacity. As a U.S. facility, it is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent from Wamsutter Lagoon is discharged into the local watershed, which is part of the Great Divide Basin. This endorheic basin does not drain to the ocean, making water quality management particularly important for maintaining local aquatic habitats and groundwater resources in the arid Wyoming landscape.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Great Divide Basin, a closed drainage basin in south-central Wyoming where water does not reach the sea. This basin supports a unique ecosystem adapted to semi-arid conditions, including ephemeral streams and playa lakes. The facility's secondary treatment helps protect local groundwater and surface water quality, which is critical for wildlife and livestock in this sparsely populated region.
Frequently asked questions
Wamsutter Lagoon is located in Wamsutter, Sweetwater County, Wyoming, United States. It serves the local community in this small town in the Great Divide Basin.
The plant serves a population of approximately 1,751 people, making it a small-scale municipal wastewater treatment facility.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the local watershed within the Great Divide Basin, an endorheic basin where water does not flow to the ocean. The discharge supports local water resources in the arid region.
As a U.S. facility, Wamsutter Lagoon operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality.
For small communities in the U.S., secondary treatment is standard under the Clean Water Act. Many such plants use lagoon systems, which are cost-effective for small populations and provide biological treatment through natural processes.
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