The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announced today that it has reached a $955,000 financial settlement with Severn Trent Environmental Services, Inc., regarding the company’s operational violations at the Hugo Municipal Authority Public Water Supply treatment facility. Under the agreement, $930,000 will be designated to assist small communities in Oklahoma, such as Hugo, with expenses related to upgrades at drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities.

“The settlement is the result of a cooperative effort between DEQ and Severn Trent Environmental Services, Inc., to address drinking water violations in Hugo,” said DEQ Executive Director Scott Thompson. “This agreement constitutes the largest water quality-related settlement in DEQ’s 25-year history,” Thompson added.

A 2015 DEQ investigation at the Hugo Municipal Authority Public Water Supply treatment facility uncovered monitoring violations, low chlorination and other operational violations.

“Today’s action reflects DEQ’s ongoing commitment to work with Hugo and other communities across the state to ensure safe drinking water for our citizens,” said Thompson.

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