Living in Tatum, TX: what to set up and who to call
The City of Tatum water system reported 5 health-based violations to EPA in the last five years: disinfection byproducts (TTHM) ×4, a lead and copper treatment requirement (Lead and Copper Rule Revisions). 78% of systems its size reported none. Most homes in Tatum have two wired internet choices, Tatum Telephone Company and Zito Media.
I’m new in town
What to set up in Tatum, and who provides it. Tap an answer for the details and where they come from.
Power, water and internet
Who to call to start service at a new address in Tatum.
Power comes from SWEPCO
SWEPCO (Southwestern Electric Power Co.), an investor-owned utility, serves all of Tatum. Its homes paid an average of 12.6¢ per kWh in 2025, about $146 a month (its average across Texas).
Service territory: HIFLD Electric Retail Service Territories (map dated Aug 2023). Prices and customers: EIA-861, 2025.
Water comes from City of Tatum water system
The City of Tatum water system supplies almost all of Tatum. It draws ground water and serves 1,902 people in all.
5 health-based violations reported to EPA in the five years to October 2026: disinfection byproducts (TTHM) ×4, a lead and copper treatment requirement (Lead and Copper Rule Revisions), the latest beginning Oct 2024. 78% of the 7,966 systems serving 1,001–3,300 people had none.
The latest lead result on file, the 90th percentile of homes sampled in Jan–Dec 2025, was 0.0 ppb, below the 15 ppb action level that applied. The highest in five years was 0.6 ppb. Results below detection are reported as 0, so 0 doesn’t mean no lead at any tap.
The system’s full record: EPA ECHO report
EPA SDWIS via Envirofacts (violations pulled Oct 9, 2026) and ECHO (lead samples, 2026Q3); service area: EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3.0. Violations are counted by the start of their compliance period. TX2010034.
7 home internet providers serve Tatum
95% of 555 addresses can get 100/20 Mbps; 83% can get fiber.
| Provider | Technology | Addresses | Fastest (Mbps) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tatum Telephone Company | DSL, Fiber | 98% | 500/500 |
| Zito Media | Cable, Fiber | 84% | 1,000/1,000 |
| Spectrum | Fiber | 8% | 1,000/1,000 |
| Etex Communications | Fiber | 3% | 1,000/1,000 |
| T-Mobile | Fixed wireless | 64% | 100/20 |
| Verizon | Fixed wireless | 64% | 300/20 |
FCC National Broadband Map, as of December 2025. Availability as providers report it, not speeds people get.
We don’t have Tatum’s trash rules yet
Pickup rules, the dump and recycling in Tatum.
Where your child goes to school
Public school districts and the school path by grade.
Tatum is in Tatum Independent School District.
B+School gradeSee Schools →U.S. Department of Education, NCES Common Core of Data, 2024–25. Enrollment rules and registration are the district’s.
Town hall and registering to vote
Who to call, and how to register.
Election office: FVAP local election office directory, updated Oct 2026; jurisdictions: EAC EAVS 2024. Registration rules and links: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Tatum is in ZIP code 75691
ZIP codes where Tatum residents live, with the share of the town in each.
| ZIP | Post office name | Share of Tatum | ZIP’s residents in Tatum |
|---|---|---|---|
| 75691 | Tatum, TX | 100% | 33% |
Census 2020 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, by census block; post office names: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). ZIPs created since 2020 are missing.
Getting around, the ER and the library
One line each; the subject pages have the rest.
ER: CMS hospital data. Library: IMLS Public Libraries Survey, FY2024.
Questions about living in Tatum
Who supplies Tatum’s drinking water, and has it had violations?
The City of Tatum water system (EPA ID TX2010034). It reported 5 health-based violations to EPA in the five years to October 2026: disinfection byproducts (TTHM) ×4, a lead and copper treatment requirement (Lead and Copper Rule Revisions). 78% of systems its size had none. Its latest lead 90th percentile was 0.0 ppb (Jan–Dec 2025), against a 15 ppb action level.
Who provides electricity in Tatum?
SWEPCO (Southwestern Electric Power Co.), an investor-owned utility. Its homes paid about 12.6¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA).
What internet providers serve Tatum?
Tatum Telephone Company, Zito Media, Spectrum, Etex Communications, T-Mobile, Verizon (FCC, as of December 2025).
What ZIP codes are in Tatum?
75691. Census 2020 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas.
What school district is Tatum in?
Tatum Independent School District.
How do I register to vote in Tatum?
Texas has no online registration; you can register in person until 30 days before Election Day or by mail (postmarked 30 days before). Elections here are run by the Rusk County Early Voting Clerk. Check your registration at teamrv-mvp.sos.texas.gov.
Sources & dates
Every answer above names its source. Here they are with their dates.
- Water: EPA SDWIS (Envirofacts, pulled Oct 9, 2026), ECHO SDWA 2026Q3, EPA CWS Service Area Boundaries v3.0.
- Power: HIFLD Electric Retail Service Territories (map Aug 2023); EIA-861 final 2025.
- Trash: OpenStreetMap, Geofabrik extract of Oct 9, 2026. © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
- ZIP codes: Census 2020 ZCTA relationship files; GeoNames postal codes (CC BY 4.0).
- Schools: NCES Common Core of Data, 2024–25.
- Registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024 (read Oct 10, 2026). Official sites and area codes: Wikidata.
- Election office: FVAP local election office directory (fetched Oct 10, 2026; each record dated), EAC EAVS 2024 jurisdictions; registration and lookup links from vote.gov’s state data, checked Oct 10, 2026.
- Internet: FCC National Broadband Map, as of December 2025.