In the world of local utility management, the stakes are often as high as the water towers that dot the skyline. For Brad Metz, President of the Bolivar Peninsula Special Utility District (BPSUD)—locally known simply as “the Water Company”—the journey from a career in international building materials to managing the peninsula’s lifeblood has been a masterclass in adaptation.
In a recent interview, Metz detailed the challenges, successes, and future-forward strategies currently shaping the water supply for thousands of residents along the Texas coast.
A Business Mind in a Utility World
Metz didn’t set out to be a “water man.” After a successful career building a $200 million wholesale building material company from a business plan written on a bar napkin, he retired to the beach six years ago.
“My wife said, ‘You better go find something to do,'” Metz laughs.
That “something” became a seat on the BPSUD board. Metz brought a business perspective to a role that many perceive as purely operational. Today, as President, he views the district not just as a series of pipes, but as a complex financial and infrastructural puzzle.
The Logistics of Local Water
BPSUD pumps its supply from a treatment plant located north of I-10 in Winnie, Texas. The infrastructure has a storage capacity of 6.25 million gallons combined in a network of five specialized facilities and towers, including High Island North and South, Singing Sands, Boyt Road, and the central office tower.
The distribution network utilizes a variety of pipe sizes, ranging from 20-inch main transmission lines to 2-inch neighborhood lines. One of the district’s most remarkable achievements is its operational efficiency; while the standard industry “water loss” rate due to leaks and flushing is typically around 10%, the BPSUD maintains an impressive loss rate of only 2% to 3%.
Preparing for the “Kapow”: Growth and Upgrades
The peninsula experienced a development “explosion” in 2021 and 2022. While growth is often welcomed, the sheer speed of it put immense pressure on an aging system. Metz explains that many streets were originally outfitted with 2-inch lines—sufficient for a few houses, but inadequate for modern density.
To combat this, the district is currently working through a series of multi-million dollar contracts to upgrade neighborhood lines and highway mains.
The “MUD” Discussion: Financial Sustainability
One of the most talked-about topics in the community is the potential transition from a Special Utility District (SUD) to a Municipal Utility District (MUD). Metz is quick to clarify that this is currently in the “exploratory” phase.
Why consider a MUD? Currently, the district’s only revenue comes from monthly water bills. A MUD would allow the district to levy a property tax. While no one enjoys a new tax, Metz points out the strategic benefits:
- Broader Revenue Base: Owners of undeveloped lots who currently pay nothing would contribute to the infrastructure they will eventually use.
- Infrastructure Funding: It provides a reliable stream to fund the massive upgrades required by the TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality).
- Proactive Management: “It’s best to look into it when you don’t have to do it,” Metz notes, “rather than when your back is against the wall.”
Looking Toward the Horizon
As he looks toward the future, Metz’s goal is simple: to leave the district “in the black,” with upgraded infrastructure that allows a new resident to get a water meter in a week, not a year.
“I’m as transparent as I can be with these numbers,” Metz says. “We’re not playing with $10 and $20 here.”
Shauna King
February 18, 2026 at 4:48 pmGreat article, Tom! Thanks!