diff --git a/backend/app/settings.py b/backend/app/settings.py
index 64c9272..b959546 100644
--- a/backend/app/settings.py
+++ b/backend/app/settings.py
@@ -1,25 +1,25 @@
 
-import os
 from functools import lru_cache
 
 from pydantic import Field
-from pydantic_settings import BaseSettings, SettingsConfigDict
+from pydantic_settings import BaseSettings
 
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
+import os
+
+load_dotenv()
 
 class _BaseConfig(BaseSettings):
-    model_config = SettingsConfigDict(
-        env_file=".env", extra="ignore", nested_model_default_partial_update=True
-    )
-
+    pass
 
 class _AppSettings(_BaseConfig):
-    environment: str = Field(default=os.getenv("ENVIRONMENT"))
+    environment: str = Field(default=os.getenv("ENVIRONMENT", "development"))
 
 
 class _DbSettings(_BaseConfig):
-    username: str = Field(default=os.getenv("PG_USER"), alias="PG_USER")
-    password: str = Field(default=os.getenv("PG_PASSWORD"), alias="PG_PASSWORD")
-    db_name: str = Field(default=os.getenv("PG_DB_NAME"), alias="PG_DB_NAME")
+    username: str = Field(default=os.getenv("PG_USER"))
+    password: str = Field(default=os.getenv("PG_PASSWORD"))
+    db_name: str = Field(default=os.getenv("PG_DB_NAME"))
 
 
 class _Settings(_BaseConfig):
diff --git a/backend/requirements.txt b/backend/requirements.txt
index 20c9eba..c381ad5 100644
--- a/backend/requirements.txt
+++ b/backend/requirements.txt
@@ -3,4 +3,5 @@ uvicorn
 sqlmodel
 pydantic
 sqlalchemy
-pydantic-settings
\ No newline at end of file
+pydantic-settings
+python-dotenv
\ No newline at end of file