The former wastewater manager for the city of Hays has been charged with violating the Clean Water Act by lying about nitrogen levels in the city’s discharges.

The U.S. attorney’s office says a four-count federal indictment Tuesday accuses 57-year-old Charles L. Blair with making false statements about nitrogen levels in effluent at the city’s wastewater treatment plant.

Three counts relate to statements made in discharge monitoring reports. One count charges him with lying to agents of the Environmental Protection Agency when he said he had provided accurate levels for the report.

Blair retired last year. He told The Associated Press on Tuesday he did not know why he was indicted because he had not lied.

Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty said the city cooperated fully with the EPA investigation.