From Walnuts to Water

In 1925, the SouthWest Water Company was born on a 300-acre ranch in what is now the City of LaPuente, California. Landowner Able Garnier drilled his first well there, seeking water for his vegetables and walnut trees. He struck a source of groundwater so rich that soon he had more than enough to meet his needs, and was able to offer it to surrounding farms. In 1946, Abel’s son Camille formed the San Jose Hills Water Company, commercializing the selling of water to neighboring farms and ranches.

Post-War Growth

As the post-War population boomed and more people settled in the San Gabriel Valley, the company joined forces with other nearby water companies. In 1953, these companies consolidated to form Suburban Water Systems, and in 1954, the company was incorporated as SouthWest Water Company, with Suburban remaining one of its subsidiaries. After Camille’s death in 1968, management of the company passed to his son, Anton C. (Tony) Garnier, who led the company until his retirement in 2006.

SouthWest Water: Beyond California

SouthWest Water first expanded outside of California in 1969 with the purchase of a water utility just outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico. This was the impetus for further growth and over the next three decades the company grew to over 130 regulated water and wastewater systems in Alabama, California, Florida, Louisiana, Oregon, South Carolina, and Texas.

Corix and Utilities Inc.

Corix’s origins stretch back to 1999, when Terasen Inc. expanded its activities beyond its natural gas business to form Terasen Water & Utility Services. This company grew rapidly to eventually become Corix Infrastructure Inc. in 2006. In 2009, Corix finalized its acquisition of Fairbanks Sewer & Water. In 2012, it acquired Utilities, Inc., expanding the company’s activities to 15 states, with Texas soon following in 2014.

Today: The Merger of Equals

In 2024, SouthWest Water Company and Corix Infrastructure merged to form the Nexus Water Group — a leading regulated water and wastewater utility serving more than 1.3 million people across 20 U.S. states and 2 Canadian provinces.

Our operations are decentralized through locally managed and branded water and wastewater utilities. Our headquarters are in Sugar Land, Texas, with smaller operational centers in the states and provinces in which we operate.