Water Utility Management, LLC is set to roll out a major upgrade aimed at ensuring reliable water service during power outages across their service area including Bulloch County.
The company plans to install back-up generators at all water well sites within its systems, including 30 well sites in Bulloch County, to keep water flowing even when the power goes down.
Bulloch systems include:
- Beaver Creek-Crossway Cottages
- Burkhalter-Shadowbrook-Talon's Lake
- Country Club Hills
- Countryside-Cypress Crossing-Hazelwood
- East Hampton
- Eldora Farms
- Forest Hills
- Graystone
- Grove Lakes
- Lakeview Commons
- Leefield Station
- Northwood
- Oakwood
- Old Indian Trail
- Old Mill Pond
- Olney Station
- Pinemount & Villas Cove
- Pulaski Pointe
- Saddle Creek
- Southside
- Stanford
- Tankersley-Winfield
- Waverly Cove
- Westchester
- White Oak
- Williamsburg
- Windmill Plantation
- Woodlake
- Cypress Lake
- Patti Lane
This decision comes in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene, which recently tore through the region, knocking down trees and leaving many areas without power. The storm significantly disrupted Water Utility Management’s operations, exposing the limitations of their existing back-up systems. A widespread power outage left thousands of residents under a "Boil Water Advisory" until systems could be fully restored and tested.
“We are now installing back-up generators at every one of our sites, system-wide. The cost for this service reliability upgrade is upwards of $6 million for our 270 water systems and lift stations,” said Mark Smith, CEO of Water Utility Management.
Ray Harrington, the company’s Chief Operating Officer and Vice President, added that teams are currently working with generator suppliers to prioritize sites and develop a timeline. New generators are expected to start arriving in January 2025 and will be installed as swiftly as possible.
The project, funded by new company debt, represents a significant investment in service reliability. “We understand that consumer expectations for water service have risen, and our customers deserve this increased level of service and will support this program,” said Smith.
Water Utility Management, Georgia’s largest private water utility, serves around 33,000 homes across 17 counties in Southeast and South Georgia, adding roughly 20,000 households over the last 14 years through acquisitions.
The company, regulated by the State of Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division, remains fully compliant with state requirements.
