We know some Valley International Country Club (VICC) residents want utility bills that reflect their own water usage. We hear your concerns, and we are committed to sharing clear, transparent information.
On this page, we explain how the VICC water and sewer system came to be, how we serve and bill VICC today, and what must happen before individual metering is possible. You can also watch recordings of both town hall meetings.
Town Hall Meetings
Town Hall 1
- Date: Monday, June 22, 2026
- Time: 6 to 7:30 p.m.
- Location: Brownsville Events Center
Town Hall 2
- Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2026
- Time: 4 to 5:30 p.m.
- Location: Brownsville Events Center
What We’ll Cover
BPUB is committed to transparency.
- Historical context: How VICC was developed and annexed
- Current situation: How VICC is served and billed today
- What BPUB knows and what still needs to be confirmed
- Key challenges: Legal, engineering, and infrastructure
- First steps and path forward
Our Purpose
BPUB recognizes that some VICC residents have concerns about how utility services are currently metered and billed.
Residents want personalized billing that reflects individual usage and allows them to manage utility costs. The goal today is to listen to our customers' needs, provide clear information, and outline realistic paths forward. BPUB will share what is known, what still needs to be confirmed, and what steps must come before changes can be made.
How We Got Here
*VICC was developed outside the city limits, largely developer-designed and operated, including the establishment and maintenance of streets and the provision of utilities.
- 1966: Valley Inn and Country Club, Inc. was a private development and was serviced by Valley Municipal Utility District No.1 (VMUD #1) with water, sewer, and drainage services. BPUB provided electric service.
- 1973: VMUD#1 filed a tax levy for $500,000, which voters approved.
- 1980: BPUB provided wholesale water to VICC through master meter points under a formal contract with VMUD #1.
- 1995: City of Brownsville annexes VICC on November 29, 1995. The VICC system required significant investment due to noncompliance with state standards for water and wastewater infrastructure. VICC HOA continued to exist and service its facilities. Extension of water/sewer services by BPUB is included in the City's service plan.
- 1996: City ordinance established flat-rate billing for non-metered areas, including within VICC.
- 1997: BPUB began billing service to VICC water customers. At the time, the system was still reported to be below standards and in need of significant improvement.
- 1999–2001: Approximately $5 million in system improvements were needed. The sewer was connected to BPUB's system.
How VICC is Served Today
- Master-metered system: Water is delivered through a limited number of master-meter points that serve multiple properties.
- Flat-rate Billing: Non-metered areas have been billed at a flat rate as per the ordinance.
- Residential Metering: Most residential water and sewer customers are in a non-metered area with flat-rate billing. Properly platted locations are individually metered and billed accordingly.
- Private infrastructure: Almost all of the VICC water and wastewater system originated as private infrastructure before annexation. Ownership and maintenance responsibility for parts of that system are not fully documented. Newer areas and certain tracts have formal easements/ROW and individually metered water and sewer service.
The Current Situation
What We Know
- Some residents want billing that reflects actual individual usage
- The system includes a mix of shared connections, private side lines, and some individual meters
- The infrastructure has a complex history of private ownership and limited documentation
- Only BPUB meters are allowed for billing purposes.
What Is Needed
- Exact locations of all underground electric, water and wastewater lines
- Ownership of easement and right-of-way for internal utility corridors
- To identify service lines that require necessary upgrades
- A full assessment of the scope and cost associated with compliant improvements
What Must Be Resolved
- Legal access - Right-of-way and easements (primary hurdle): BPUB has limited access to maintain, or upgrade water and wastewater lines without confirmed right-of-way and easement rights. Many internal VICC streets and utility corridors originated as private infrastructure. This requires legal review, title research, and potentially formal agreements with property owners.
- Utility surveying and mapping: A complete engineering survey of existing infrastructure must occur before any planning, design, or construction can begin. Line locations, material conditions, and service connections are not fully documented.
- Infrastructure condition: The system was below standards when BPUB took over billing in 1997. Some pipes are undersized or require replacement before individual metering is feasible.
Right-of-way and easement status for portions of the system have not been fully confirmed.
First Steps
Step 1 — Utility identification and surveying
Engage an engineering firm to identify and map all existing utility infrastructure throughout VICC.
This is a multi-year effort. The full program could span 5 to 10 years, depending on what the survey and legal review reveal.
Long-Term Outlook
- Full conversion of VICC to individual metering will require phased infrastructure work over multiple years.
- Higher-priority or more accessible areas would be addressed first as phases are defined.
- Funding and project scope will be determined as engineering findings and legal access are resolved.
- BPUB Board consideration will be required as the project scope and funding approach are developed.
- Residents should expect this to be a process with defined phases, not a single immediate action.
Key Takeaways
BPUB hears and understands the concerns of VICC residents
The path to individual metering is real, but it requires resolving legal access issues, completing a utility survey, and addressing infrastructure needs in a responsible, phased approach.
BPUB is committed to transparent communication as this process advances.