Southern Utilities: Providing Reliable Water Services to Tyler, Texas

Located in the heart of East Texas, the city of Tyler has relied on Southern Utilities Company to provide high-quality water services to residents and businesses for over 50 years. As the largest private water utility in Texas, Southern Utilities delivers clean, safe drinking water to thousands of customers across Smith, Cherokee, and Rusk counties. For Tyler residents, Southern Utilities has become an indispensable partner in ensuring the continuous flow of water to households, public institutions, and commercial enterprises throughout the city.

A Long History of Service in Tyler

Southern Utilities first began providing water services in Tyler in the late 1960s after acquiring the water system previously owned by the city. Since that time the company has significantly expanded its service area and improved infrastructure to keep pace with Tyler’s growth. Today, Southern Utilities provides water services to around 230000 residents across three counties. In the city of Tyler alone, the company serves approximately 27,500 water connections.

The company’s Tyler district office is located along Broadway Avenue in the heart of the city. From this office, Southern Utilities manages all customer service needs for Tyler residents including billing, payments, and responding to service requests and inquiries. The Tyler district falls under Southern Utilities’ Cherokee Basin division, covering Cherokee County and parts of Smith County.

Delivering Clean, Reliable Water

As a water utility, Southern Utilities’ top priority is to deliver safe, high-quality drinking water that meets or exceeds all state and federal standards The company utilizes advanced treatment methods like ozonation and chloramine disinfection to ensure water is free of contaminants Water quality experts continuously monitor the water supply from source to tap to identify potential issues before they occur.

To transport water efficiently throughout its service area Southern Utilities maintains hundreds of miles of underground pipelines, storage tanks pumping stations, and other critical infrastructure. Crews work diligently to repair leaks, replace outdated pipes, and improve pressure and flows throughout the distribution network. Infrastructure investments and proactive maintenance practices help minimize service disruptions while avoiding wasted resources.

For Tyler customers, Southern Utilities draws water from multiple sources including Lake Palestine, Lake Tyler, and groundwater wells. By leveraging diverse water supplies, the company safeguards its ability to meet customer needs even during periods of drought. Conservation initiatives promoted by Southern Utilities also help manage demand on water resources.

Customer Service Tailored to Tyler

As a private utility not funded by taxpayers, Southern Utilities operates efficiently to provide reliable services at reasonable rates. The company’s Tyler office staff assists local customers with starting or stopping service, explaining bills, resolving leaks, and answering any questions or concerns.

Customers have multiple options for paying bills including by phone, online, automatic bank draft, mail, or in person. Southern Utilities also offers payment plans and low-income assistance programs to help qualifying customers maintain uninterrupted service.

Dedicated customer service representatives are available by phone Monday thru Friday during normal business hours. Crews are also on-call at all hours to respond quickly to water main breaks or other urgent service needs. Customers can easily report emergencies or outages using Southern Utilities’ 24-hour contact number.

Keeping Customers Informed

Southern Utilities emphasizes transparency and regularly informs Tyler customers on important issues impacting water service. The company publishes annual Consumer Confidence Reports detailing local water quality testing results and any detected contaminants. These helpful reports assure customers their water meets strict safety requirements.

During periods of drought or other emergencies, Southern Utilities works closely with local officials to implement appropriate water restrictions or conservation measures. Timely communications keep Tyler residents aware of any service changes or actions needed on their part in response to evolving conditions.

The company also maintains a user-friendly website and active social media presence to share news updates, helpful tips, and other useful information. Customers can easily access account information and make payments online through Southern Utilities’ convenient web portal.

Investing in Tyler’s Growth

With Tyler’s expanding population and business community, Southern Utilities continually invests in infrastructure and operations to meet the area’s water needs now and into the future. The company has laid hundreds of miles of new pipelines, drilled additional wells, and expanded treatment capacity to support the region’s development.

Looking ahead, Southern Utilities is well positioned to continue providing Tyler and surrounding communities with clean, reliable water services for decades to come. With its local office and crews dedicated specifically to the Tyler area, the company has built strong ties and relationships across the city. Southern Utilities’ commitment to service excellence and prudent investments will ensure Tyler has the water infrastructure necessary to sustain growth and quality of life for generations.

For over five decades, Southern Utilities has delivered on its essential responsibility of providing water services to Tyler residents. The company takes great pride in this role and in being a trusted community partner. Tyler remains a priority area for Southern Utilities as it carries out its mission of sustainably managing water resources and supplying high-quality drinking water throughout East Texas.