Severn Trent Services wins contracts with three Oklahoma municipalities

Fort Washington, Pa. — Severn Trent Services recently won contracts with three municipalities in Oklahoma. Two of the contracts – with the McAlester Public Works Authority and the Guymon Utilities Authority – are for public-private partnerships, in which the company will provide long-term operations and maintenance (O&M). The third – with an existing partner, the Clinton Public Works Authority – is a 90- to 120-day contract to evaluate and identify future water sources for the city.

The McAlester Public Works Authority serves a population within the city of approximately 18,300, in addition to providing drinking water to nearby rural water districts. Severn Trent Services will provide O&M services for the Authority’s water treatment plant and has developed a plan to fund and implement a capital improvement project during the first year of the agreement. The contract will be effective July 1, 2014.

The Guymon Utilities Authority serves a population of 11,903. Severn Trent will provide O&M services for the Authority’s wastewater treatment plant and will create and implement a comprehensive industrial pretreatment program during the first year of the agreement. The contract went into effect June 1, 2014.

The Clinton Public Works Authority serves a population of 8,852. Severn Trent’s contract requires the company, along with a team that Includes Burns and McDonnell, to evaluate the city’s water source options and develop pricing for a new water treatment plant. In 2010, the City of Clinton contracted with Severn Trent for O&M services at its water treatment and wastewater treatment plants. In 2012, The city was named winner of the George W. Burke, Jr. Facility Safety Award by the Water Environment Federation. The award, which is given annually to industrial or municipal wastewater facilities on a statewide basis, is presented to wastewater treatment facilities that have exhibited the best safety records in the past calendar year. In 2012, only 16 Burke statewide awards were presented in the United States.

According to Bill Mertes, vice president, Operations, U.S. Operating Services for Severn Trent Services, “Public-private partnerships have been shown to consistently benefit municipalities and their ratepayers through lower operating costs, improved safety, increased compliance, higher levels of operator expertise and a more stable and professional employee base. Severn Trent Services has partnered with municipalities for 40 years and currently serves more than 400 treatment facilities in the United States. At Severn Trent, we’re committed to delivering service, value and quality beyond the expectations of our customers in Oklahoma and throughout the 22 states we serve through such partnerships.”