Hello Texada!  Here are a few notes from our last regular board meeting, held Sep 13^th.

WATER: Due to serious concern about the possibility of low lake levels affecting the water intake pump, we installed the identical backup pump on a float 150 ft from shore. This is working perfectly, and we are about to begin the next part of the project – deepening the wet well and cleaning the intake line.

There is plentiful water in the lake, but the pump well is not deep enough.

Water restrictions have been in place because of the limited water processing capabilities of the Water Treatment Plant. August’s average daily volume of water treated was about 93,000 US gallon/day (352 cubic meters) with most days between 80,000 & 100,000 USG. More water data can be seen at vananda-id.ca/water-data/

No new water connection applications have been received this year. When considering new applications, the trustees consider the impacts of providing the service requested, such as available resources, the effect on existing services, and feasibility of maintaining the proposed service – from VAID’s Development Policy.

FIRE PROTECTION: Van Anda and Gillies Bay firefighters continue working well together at the incidents where both Fire Departments respond. Monday night fire practices are back after the summer break. Please contact acting Fire Chief Mark Robert at 604-414-9662 for more info.

NEWSLETTER: Earlier this year, community members requested more frequent newsletters than those provided twice a year (Annual Newsletter and AGM Report). Since then, we have been publishing informational articles monthly in the Express Lines, and now these are also available on the VAID website. Visit vananda-id.ca/newsletters/ to see these.

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

NEXT MEETING: OCT 18^th 1.30 Van Anda Firehall (upstairs).

Hello Texada!  We welcome new employees Joseph Scott (Administrative Assistant) and Marianne Segers (Water Operator). Both bring a range of skills to the team. Here are a few notes from our last regular board meeting, held Aug 16^th.

WATER: The increased summer water use has been a challenge in keeping the Treatment Plant operating smoothly. Variations in the plant functioning combined with large fluctuations in water use can cause imbalance in the chlorine levels. There may have been times when you noticed a stronger chlorine smell while we were sorting this out.

Water safety standards state minimum and maximum levels of chlorine be present at the furthest point from treatment. VAID is consistent in keeping within these levels. Please note that running water for extended periods may increase the amount of chlorine in your water, as chlorine degrades quickly over time.

Regarding the variations in water demand, we regularly see daily differences of 15,000 US gallons or more. Some days have been 25 or even 30,000 more than the previous day, often occurring at night. Usage drops noticeably for a few days after rain. We ask that you check your watering systems for leaks, especially in-ground systems where the leak may not be obvious. As an example, a quarter inch hole in Van Anda can leak 10,000 gallons overnight! Another common water loss is from hoses left on – a half inch hose left running for 6 hours can waste 17,500 gallons.

Thanks for the info received regarding water use in our community and please continue to contact us about your concerns.

FIRE PROTECTION: Monday night fire practices will be starting again on Sep 11, after the summer break. Please contact acting Fire Chief Mark Robert at 604-414-9662 for more info.

More INFORMATION on VAID is available at www.vananda-id.ca.

NEXT MEETING: SEP 13^th

Hello Texada!  Here are a few notes from our last Van Anda Improvement District (VAID) regular board meeting held Jul 12^th.

WATER: Stage 3 Water Restrictions were implemented at the beginning of July. This year’s summer usage is more than expected and the increase since spring is more than in previous years. This may signify new leaks or water use changes. Investigations are continuing. Please help by letting us know of any water use concerns – email contact@vananada-id.ca or leave a message at 604-486-7035.

The Jul 7 article in the Powell River Peak stated that there is plenty of water for the new subdivision and the mining application. This information is from before the increased summer usage and is no longer applicable. Applications for new connections and other water provision will continue to be considered carefully.

Van Anda’s treated water is not allowed to be supplied to outside the district. This very clear in the Water Regulation Bylaw, which is available online at www.vananda-id.ca/bylaws. Measures are being taken to ensure that water cannot be taken from VAID. Bulk water may be available by approval – contact the office.

Please remember to use water responsibility – by fixing leaks, watering between 8 pm and 8 am (no lawn watering), and conserving water when possible.      See the Water Restriction Chart for more details.

FIRE PROTECTION: One of the reasons for Stage 3 Water Restrictions is to keep the water storage tank full. High water usage can cause the water level in the tank to be too low to provide enough water for fire fighting needs.

INFORMATION concerning VAID is available at our website www.vananda-id.ca.

NEXT MEETING: Residents are encouraged to attend VAID meetings. Next meeting is AUG 16^th at 1:30pm, upstairs at the fire hall in Van Anda.

Hello Texada!  Here are a few notes from our last Van Anda Improvement District (VAID) regular board meeting held June 14^th.

WATER: Water gain from a day of rain: approximately 2 centimetres (.75 inch) measured at Priest Lake.

Daily water loss from evaporation with no rain: approximately 0.6 – 1.27 centimetres (0.25 – 0.50 inches) depending on heat.

We experienced unseasonable heat in May and an extended dry spell which brought Priest Lake to its lowest level in recent years for May. Even after the recent rain, the lake level is still lower that it was on this date in 2021.

The trend toward hotter, drier conditions during summer is forecast to continue. Improved water intake options and pumping capabilities for fire protection use are still being explored.

Water use rose gradually as the dry spell continued, with daily average of 110,000 USG (416 m3) per day for the week before it rained. As of Jun 20, the daily average is 88,000 USG (333 m3).

If we wish to have access to sufficient, clean drinking water for daily consumption we must address and correct all water leaks, water waste and water theft. If you notice standing water, wet ground around town, or have any concerns, please let a VAID board member or the office know.

FIRE PROTECTION: Crescent Bay residents approached acting Fire Chief Mark Robert for fire protection.

This can be provided if properties are in the Improvement District, so a boundary amendment is required. This is a lengthy process and must be initiated by the property owners.

INFORMATION concerning VAID is available at our website www.vananda-id.ca. A quarterly newsletter is underway.

NEXT MEETING: Residents are encouraged to attend VAID meetings. Next meeting is July 12^th at 1:30pm, upstairs at the fire hall in Van Anda.

Thank you to everyone who attended the AGM on April 22. Concerns expressed by residents have been reviewed and discussed by the Trustees, who welcome your input and encourage everyone to attend the regular monthly meetings. Next meeting is June 14, 1.30 upstairs at the Firehall.

Welcome new Trustees Jennifer Moore and Phillip Tidd! Thank you for volunteering for this important work.

Many thanks to retiring Trustees Neale Berger and George Childress for your work on the board and in the community in these changing times.

Two important issues we are dealing with are Priest Lake water levels and loss of treated water from leaks. Lake levels in late summer 2021 were so low that we realised the placement of the water intake pumps needs attention. We are repositioning these this year. The shallow placement of the pumps has been a known concern for many years; changed seasonal weather patterns have determined we must correct the issue now. Priest Lake is more than 50 feet deep; there is plenty of water.

Regarding leaks, VAID was processing up to 160,000 gallons of water/day in 2021; this has decreased to about 70,000. We are continuing to repair mains leaks and now helping residents identify leaks on their properties. Two sections of pipe will be replaced this year and we will continue with pipe replacement in future years.

Concerns were expressed about whether our system can handle new connections. As we are processing only 45% of the water processed in the past, it was decided by the Board that there is sufficient capacity to approve a moderate number of new hook-ups. All new applications are evaluated before approval, with engineering reports provided (at the developers cost) when the Trustees consider professional input necessary.

Please contact us with any concerns: email contact@vananda-id.ca or phone 604-486-7035.