UPDATE: The notice was lifted Saturday afternoon (June 8).

Southern Utilities Company has issued a boil water notice for all of its customers in Smith and Cherokee counties. As of Thursday morning, it remains in effect until further notice.

The boil notice was issued Tuesday, according to a Southern Utilities press release. About 60,000 people are affected, Smith County reported.

“Due the recent thunderstorms and power outages in the area, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the Southern Utilities Company public water system… to notify all customers … of the Southern Utilities public water system to boil their water prior to consumption (e.g., washing hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc.). Children, seniors, and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions),” the press release stated.

To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes.

In lieu of boiling, individuals may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source for drinking water or human consumption purposes.

Delivery of the boil water notices to affected customers will be done by notification to various media outlets including radio, TV and internet postings, the company said in the press release. Southern Utilities also asked the Smith County Emergency Operations Center to help spread the news.

When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the public water system officials will contact and notify affected customers that the water is safe for drinking water or human consumption purposes.

Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice.

“Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail,” the company stated.

“The recent thunderstorms and power outages in the area have caused loss of power to some water wells in the system,” Southern Utilities said. “Southern Utilities is taking measures to rectify the power issues as quickly as possible.”

If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact Southern Utilities Company’s Scott Pope at 903-566-3511. The water system customers and the executive director shall be able to reach the public water system at one of the numbers listed in this notice. If a customer, individual or employee wishes to contact the executive director, please call 512-239-4691.