West Fargo Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant, West Fargo, North Dakota

West Fargo Lagoon is a wastewater treatment facility located in West Fargo, Cass County, North Dakota, United States. The plant serves a population of approximately 26,312 residents, placing it in the medium-agglomeration category under US regulatory frameworks. It is situated in the Red River Valley, a flat agricultural region prone to seasonal flooding. As a lagoon-based system, the plant likely relies on natural biological processes for treatment, which is common in smaller communities in the northern Great Plains. Under the US Clean Water Act, such facilities must obtain National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits from the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality, setting effluent limits to protect receiving waters. Lagoon systems typically provide secondary treatment equivalent to stabilization ponds. The treated effluent from West Fargo Lagoon discharges into the Red River of the North, which flows northward into Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada. The Red River basin supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for waterfowl. Downstream, Lake Winnipeg is a large freshwater lake that experiences eutrophication challenges, making nutrient removal from upstream sources critical.

The plant discharges into the Red River of the North, which flows north through Manitoba, Canada, into Lake Winnipeg. The Red River basin is a flat, agricultural watershed that contributes significant nutrient loads to Lake Winnipeg, a large freshwater lake prone to algal blooms. The region's seasonal flooding and clay-rich soils influence runoff patterns and water quality. Protecting downstream ecosystems requires effective nutrient management at treatment facilities like West Fargo Lagoon.