Washburn Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant, Washburn, North Dakota

Washburn Lagoon is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Washburn, McLean County, North Dakota. Serving a population of approximately 1,246, the plant provides secondary treatment for the community's domestic wastewater. The facility is situated near the Missouri River, which is the primary receiving water body for the region. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater discharges. With a designed capacity of 567.81 cubic meters per day and an average discharge volume of 454.25 cubic meters per day, the facility maintains a utilization rate that indicates operational headroom. The treatment process employs lagoon-based technology, typical for small communities in the Great Plains. The treated effluent from Washburn Lagoon ultimately flows into the Missouri River, a major tributary of the Mississippi River system. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for downstream communities. The plant's discharge is regulated under an EPA NPDES permit to protect water quality in the Missouri River basin.

Washburn Lagoon discharges into the Missouri River, which flows southeast to join the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. The Missouri River in this reach supports a variety of fish species, including paddlefish and catfish, and provides critical habitat for migratory birds along the Central Flyway. The plant's secondary treatment helps maintain nutrient levels and oxygen concentrations necessary for aquatic health in this ecologically significant river system.