Two employees of Bethany-Warr Acres water treatment plant charged over sewage leak
More than two years after a wastewater treatment plant leaked tons of sewage onto roadways and into creek beds, criminal charges have been filed.>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channelOne man has been arrested, and another is not yet in custody after the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality said they failed to properly operate the Bethany-Warr Acres Wastewater Treatment Plant.The facility is on 192nd Street near Portland Avenue. KOCO 5 was at the facility in 2022, and DEQ officials said problems had started years earlier.Watch the video above to see KOCO 5’s reporting at the plant in 2022.“Since 2019, that’s when we really started to notice some discrepancies in records, a renewal application was not filed,” said Shellie Chard, director of DEQ’s Water Quality Division.As KOCO 5 visited the water treatment plant in late 2022, raw sewage could be seen flowing all over the grounds.“Raw sewage was leaving the plant onto the ground, into water bodies, and eventually into Bluff Creek and Liberty Lake,” Chard said.But this week, Glenn Brentnell and Anthony Menzie both face charges for violating the Oklahoma Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems Act, along with conspiracy and obtaining property by trick or deception. DEQ officials also said Menzie admitted to investigators that he falsified laboratory reports.“They were not calibrating flow meters, laboratory equipment. There were all kinds of both paperwork and failure to properly operate and maintain the treatment plant,” Chard said.DEQ officials say the cities of Bethany and Warr Acres created a separate utility, with combined board members from both cities. That board oversaw the operation of the water treatment plant.“These two individuals were two of several employees that reported to that board,” Chard said.KOCO 5 reached out to both cities for comment.In a statement, Warr Acres city officials said, “The city will allow the criminal justice system to resolve this matter and has no further comment at this time.”Bethany did not return KOCO 5’s request for comment.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.DEQ officials said the good news is the drinking water for the cities was not impacted.“We believe there was no impact to drinking water. That was all handled appropriately, the water in that area was generally provided by Oklahoma City and their treatment,” Chard said.KOCO 5 was told the water treatment plant is operating, but with new employees and with additional technical assistance.Top HeadlinesTIMELINE: Severe storms could bring hail to Oklahoma late SaturdayWhere’s the money: Tracking Bipartisan Infrastructure Law fundingPerson taken to hospital after three-alarm fire breaks out at northwest OKC event centerPowerful earthquake rocks Myanmar and Thailand; more than 150 people dead‘I don’t think I’m going to make it’: Kayaker called father before he died in Texas lake
More than two years after a wastewater treatment plant leaked tons of sewage onto roadways and into creek beds, criminal charges have been filed.
>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel
One man has been arrested, and another is not yet in custody after the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality said they failed to properly operate the Bethany-Warr Acres Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The facility is on 192nd Street near Portland Avenue. KOCO 5 was at the facility in 2022, and DEQ officials said problems had started years earlier.
Watch the video above to see KOCO 5’s reporting at the plant in 2022.
“Since 2019, that’s when we really started to notice some discrepancies in records, a renewal application was not filed,” said Shellie Chard, director of DEQ’s Water Quality Division.
As KOCO 5 visited the water treatment plant in late 2022, raw sewage could be seen flowing all over the grounds.
“Raw sewage was leaving the plant onto the ground, into water bodies, and eventually into Bluff Creek and Liberty Lake,” Chard said.
But this week, Glenn Brentnell and Anthony Menzie both face charges for violating the Oklahoma Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems Act, along with conspiracy and obtaining property by trick or deception. DEQ officials also said Menzie admitted to investigators that he falsified laboratory reports.
“They were not calibrating flow meters, laboratory equipment. There were all kinds of both paperwork and failure to properly operate and maintain the treatment plant,” Chard said.
DEQ officials say the cities of Bethany and Warr Acres created a separate utility, with combined board members from both cities. That board oversaw the operation of the water treatment plant.
“These two individuals were two of several employees that reported to that board,” Chard said.
KOCO 5 reached out to both cities for comment.
In a statement, Warr Acres city officials said, “The city will allow the criminal justice system to resolve this matter and has no further comment at this time.”
Bethany did not return KOCO 5’s request for comment.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
DEQ officials said the good news is the drinking water for the cities was not impacted.
“We believe there was no impact to drinking water. That was all handled appropriately, the water in that area was generally provided by Oklahoma City and their treatment,” Chard said.
KOCO 5 was told the water treatment plant is operating, but with new employees and with additional technical assistance.
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