Southlake residents paying their water bills online are using a new system as of Saturday, August 1.

The city's Utility Access Portal officially replaced the previous payment website after a soft launch on Tuesday, July 21 that drew more than 950 signups in its first week.

The portal is run by Southlake Water Utilities, who lets customers pay bills with fewer clicks, view billing history, manage multiple properties under one login, and update payment methods anytime. American Express is now accepted for the first time on the city's water bill platform.

Residents who don't want to create an account can still make one-time payments without logging in.

"In the short time since launch, more than 950 residents have already registered for an account, with over 580 enrolling in AutoPay, and we expect those numbers to continue climbing during the next billing cycle," Nicole Bradshaw, Deputy Director of Finance, said in a July 28 announcement.

One catch: customers previously enrolled in the city's AutoPay program must re-enroll through the new portal. Bank bill pay users don't need to change anything.

Traditional payment options remain available, including in-person at City Hall, drop boxes, and mail.

The city is already working on smart meter integration for the portal, though no timeline has been announced.

Residents who need help setting up an account can visit Town Hall Suite 200, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 2 to 5 p.m. A step-by-step tutorial video is available on the city's YouTube channel, and general account information is posted on the city's portal page.

As we reported July 28, the portal launched quietly on July 21. Saturday's go-live date marks it as the permanent replacement for the old system.

Coming up in the community

• Tuesday, August 4: Southlake City Council hears the Bridlegate housing plan and stormwater spending priorities.
• Friday, August 14: Colleyville Senior Center celebration returns with lunch, bingo, and prizes.