Texarkana, Texas – Starting in early November, Texarkana Water Utilities (TWU) will begin a phased rollout of its new My TXK Water online portal. The tool is designed to give residents immediate access to water‑usage data, help identify potential leaks and clarify monthly billing statements.
How the portal works
TWU Director Gary Smith explained that the portal lets customers “see what’s happening with their water usage throughout the month, rather than finding out after the fact.” Users will be able to log in, view daily and weekly consumption graphs, set custom alerts for unusual usage patterns and receive notifications if a possible leak is detected.
Rollout plan
The launch will occur in four phases, allowing TWU staff to assist each group of customers with account creation and answer questions before moving on to the next batch. Residents will receive an email invitation with step‑by‑step activation instructions when their phase begins. TWU asks customers to verify that the email address and phone number on file are current, which can be done through the existing billing portal or by emailing customer service.
Smart‑meter conversion progress
The portal is part of TWU’s broader transition to a smart‑meter system supplied by Johnson Controls. The conversion began in March 2025 and has already replaced thousands of outdated meters. According to city communications director Brooke Stone, “To date, 15,982 meters have been installed in Texas and 13,539 in Arkansas. The project is approximately 400 installations away from completion.”
Addressing billing concerns
Some customers have voiced concerns about higher water bills since the new meters were installed. In February, TWU, Riverbend Water Resources District and Johnson Controls held a public forum where residents asked why their bills seemed to skyrocket. Charlotte Maxwell of the Sherwood Addition noted her bill jumped from $79 to $440 per month. TWU controller Ryan Bean suggested the increase reflects the new meters’ greater accuracy, capturing lower usage that older meters missed, which can affect overall billing calculations.
TWU and city officials remain confident that the smart‑meter system and My TXK Water portal will ultimately help residents control costs by detecting leaks early and encouraging conservation.
Getting started
Customers ready to update their contact information can log into the existing TWU billing portal or email [email protected]. For additional assistance, the utility can be reached at 903‑798‑3800.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
