Willow City Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant, Willow City, North Dakota

Willow City Lagoon is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Willow City, Bottineau County, North Dakota. It serves a small population of 163 residents, reflecting the rural character of the area. The plant is situated in the northern Great Plains region, characterized by cold winters and a flat to gently rolling terrain. The facility provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the US Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The plant has a designed capacity of 75.71 cubic meters per day, matching its current discharge volume, indicating full utilization. As a small lagoon system, it likely uses stabilization ponds, a common approach for small communities in the region. The treated effluent is discharged into local surface waters, ultimately draining into the Souris River basin, which flows north into Canada and eventually into Hudson Bay. The plant's operations are regulated under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality. This ensures compliance with water quality standards to protect downstream ecosystems.

Willow City Lagoon discharges into local waterways that are part of the Souris River watershed. The Souris River flows northward through North Dakota into Manitoba, Canada, and eventually drains into Hudson Bay via the Nelson River system. The region supports diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as walleye and northern pike, and provides habitat for migratory waterfowl. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect water quality in this sensitive prairie ecosystem.