Category: newsletters

Newsletter October 2024

Newsletter October 2024

Hello Texada!  Here are some notes on recent events:

LEAK REPAIRS: More repairs have been completed and still more leaks are popping up. Please continue to report leaks – thank you to those who have done so – we need your help!

WATER RESTRICTIONS now at STAGE 2: This change from Stage 3 decreases restrictions so you can now wash vehicles, boats, and outside surfaces. Limited lawn watering and pool filling is also allowed. Stage 2 will end Oct 15. More detail at Water Conservation Bylaw and Water Restrictions

We have listened to resident’s requests and simplified the Water Conservation Bylaw. The new one will be in effect for 2025. Thanks for your input and thanks to all who are reducing their water usage.

BOIL WATER NOTICE: Another Boil Water Notice was called Sep 7 after two samples from Van Anda (not the same location as last time) showed very low levels of Coliform bacteria. Vancouver Coastal Health requires 2 subsequent sets of samples that pass the off-site VCH testing before we can lift the Boil Water Notice. This is why the Notice stays in effect for at least 2 weeks even if the problem has been resolved. Once the Notice is lifted, we will return to a Water Quality Advisory until the media replacement in the Ion Exchange units is complete. More information on Notices and Advisories at Water Quality Notices

TEXT NOTIFICATION for WATER EMERGENCIES: We are setting a system for notification by text, to quickly inform the public on water outages and water quality issues.  If you or anyone you know would like to be texted about water emergencies, please let us know. We have very few replies so far!

EVENING MEETING? Please let us know if you would attend and evening meeting or information session. (No responses yet regarding this.)

NEXT MEETING: The next Regular Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday Oct 16th 1:30pm

FIREFIGHTERS STILL NEEDED! No experience necessary. Training, gear, and accident insurance coverage provided.  Contact Fire Chief Mark Robert 604-414-9662 or firechief@vananda.ca

CONTACT INFO: Please let us know your concerns! contact@vananda-id.ca – 604-486-7035

SUBSCRIBE: Be notified by email for outages and other events at Subscribe

WATER EMERGENCY: Water Operator Marianne Segers 1-604-315-1363

Newsletter Sept 2024

Newsletter Sept 2024

Hello Texada!  Here are some notes on recent events:

WATER QUALITY: The recent Boil Water Notice was needed when one sample from Van Anda had a Coliform count of 2. Vancouver Coastal Health requires 2 subsequent samples that pass the test (0 Coliforms) before lifting the Boil Water Notice. There was already a Water Quality Advisory active as the secondary disinfection Ultraviolet Treatment is not fully effective yet. This is still in place as we solve treatment plant issues. More information on Notices and Advisories at vananda-id.ca/water-quality-notices/

TEXT NOTIFICATION SYSTEM: We are setting a system for notification by text. If you know of anyone who would like to be texted when there are water issues, please let us know. In the meantime, be notified immediately by email for outages and other events at vananda-id.ca/subscribe/

EVENING MEETING? We have heard that some residents would attend Board meetings if they were held in the evening rather than the afternoon. Please let us know if you would attend and evening meeting or information session.

NEXT MEETING: The next Regular Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday Sep 11th 1:30pm

FIREFIGHTERS STILL NEEDED! No experience necessary. Training, gear, and on-duty insurance coverage provided.  Many practices and training events are held together with Gillies Bay as Texada’s 2 FDs continue to work together. Contact Fire Chief Mark Robert for more info 604-414-9662 or email firechief@vananda.ca

CONTACT INFO: Please let us know your concerns! contact@vananda-id.ca – 604-486-7035 – vananda-id.ca

WATER EMERGENCY: Water Operator Marianne Segers 1-604-315-1363

CALL FOR CONTRACTORS

Contact the office if you have the necessary equipment and would like to be considered for contract work for Van Anda’s water system.

Email contact@vananda-id.ca or phone 604-486-7035

Newsletter August 2024

Newsletter August 2024

Hello Texada!  Here are some notes on recent events:

FIRE PROTECTION: DID YOU KNOW that Forestry will not respond to fires outside the Improvement District Boundaries until the fire spreads to surrounding forest? Nor can the Fire Departments act until Forestry calls for assistance to act on forest fires. Fire Protection can be provided by Texada’s firefighters if an application is made to be included in the District.  Time is of the essence when responding to fires so more properties with ID Fire Protection means improved fire safety for the whole Island. Contact the office or Fire Chief Mark Robert for more information. Application is available on our webpage vananda-id.ca/fire-protection/

CONGRATULATIONS! Mark Robert has been appointed Fire Chief by the Board of Trustees. Mark has been Acting Fire Chief for 2 years.

WATER CONSERVATION:  Consider setting up a rain collection system to avoid using treated water for gardening and other activities where treated water is not necessary. VAID offers discounts on parts for drip irrigation (which is not limited during Water Restrictions), water tanks, and some other water conservation items. Conservation tips can be seen on our web page: vananda-id.ca/water-conservation-tips/

WATER QUALITY: The Water Quality Advisory is still in place as we solve treatment plant issues. Vancouver Coastal Health continues to report good results from the monthly water testing. Water Results

NOTIFICATION OF WATER ISSUES: We are setting a system for notification by text. Please provide us with your cell number if you would like to be texted important notifications. In the meantime, be notified immediately by email for outages and other events at vananda-id.ca/subscribe/

MEETINGS: The next Regular Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday Aug 14th 1:30pm

FIREFIGHTERS STILL NEEDED! No experience necessary. Training, gear, and on-duty insurance coverage provided.  Many practices and training events are held together with Gillies Bay as Texada’s 2 FDs continue to work together. Contact Fire Chief Mark Robert for more info 604-414-9662

CONTACT INFO: contact@vananda-id.ca – 604-486-7035 – vananda-id.ca

WATER EMERGENCY: Water Operator Marianne Segers 1-604-315-1363

Newsletter July 2024

Newsletter July 2024

WATER RESTRICTIONS: Stage 3 will be in effect starting Saturday June 29. This is necessary to avoid maxing out the treatment plant capacity, which can happen at the beginning of summer. Stage 3 restrictions include the following:

  • NO LAWN WATERING
  • No washing vehicles, RVs, or boats.
  • No filling or adding water to swimming pools, hot tubs, garden ponds, or decorative fountains.
  • No washing any outdoor surfaces, including sidewalks, walkways, driveways, patios, decks, or windows.
  • Hand watering and using sprinklers to water trees, shrubs, flowers, and vegetables is limited to one hour daily per coverage area and allowed only in the evening or early morning.
  • Use of micro-irrigation or drip irrigation systems to water trees, shrubs, flowers, and vegetables is allowed on any day, at any time, as required.
  • More details on our website.

DID YOU KNOW that a hose sprinkler uses 5-10 gallons per minute? That’s up to 7,200 gallons if left running overnight. The maximum capacity for our water treatment plant is only 160,000 gallons per day!

WATER QUALITY & PLANT UPGRADES: The Water Quality Advisory is still in place due to temporary Ultraviolet Treatment (UVT) insufficiency. UVT is the final step in water treatment before chlorination. The UVT system is not adequate at present due to the dissolved solids not being removed by the Ion Exchangers (Ionex), as designed. Replacement of the Ionex media will solve this issue however it is a complicated and expensive process. Plans are in place to replace the media and clean the fouled Ionex tanks as well as adding a sand filtration unit between the self-cleaning filters and the cartridge filters. This sand filter was donated to VAID from a Vancouver Island location that has since connected to a larger water supply system. It will save us money on treatment consumables such as cartridges and salt, and extend the life of the new ionex media.

Vancouver Coastal Health continues to report no issues from the monthly water testing.

MEETINGS: The next Regular Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday July 17th 1:30pm

FIREFIGHTERS NEEDED! No experience necessary. Training, gear, and on-duty insurance coverage provided.  Phone or text Acting Chief Mark Robert for more info 604-414-9662 or email firechief@vananda.ca

CONTACT INFO – Email: contact@vananda-id.ca – Phone: 604-486-7035 – Website: vananda-id.ca

SUBSCRIBE: Be notified by email for outages and other events at vananda-id.ca/subscribe

WATER EMERGENCY: phone Water Operator Marianne Segers at 604-315-1363

Newsletter June 2024

Newsletter June 2024

Hello Texada!  Here are some notes on recent events:

Thanks to Rick and Lindy for their generous donation!

OPEN BURNING BAN: Van Anda’s annual open burning ban is in effect from May 15 until October 15. Burning barrels included.

WATER LINE REPAIRS: Columbia leak is fixed. Plans are being made for replacing the watermain.

WATER RESTRICTIONS: Stage 2 in in effect. Watering is limited to one hour per area and to be done only in the early morning or evening.  Lawn watering allowed only once a week, one hour per area. No restrictions on drip irrigation.  More details at vananda-id.ca/water-conservation-bylaw/

WATER QUALITY: The Water Quality Advisory in still in place while we continue address the issues caused by some components reaching the end of their serviceable life. Vancouver Coastal Health continues to report no issues from the monthly water testing.

MEETINGS: The next Regular Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday June 12th 1:30pm

FIREFIGHTERS NEEDED! No experience necessary. Training, gear, and on-duty insurance coverage provided.  Phone or text Acting Chief Mark Robert for more info 604-414-9662 or email firechief@vananda.ca

CONTACT INFO – Email: contact@vananda-id.ca – Phone: 604-486-7035 – Website: vananda-id.ca

SUBSCRIBE: Be notified by email for outages and other events at vananda-id.ca/subscribe

WATER EMERGENCY: phone Water Operator Marianne Segers at 604-315-1363