Staff are on scene and repair work will begin as soon as possible. We will restore service as quickly as we can and will provide updates when more information is available.

Thank you for your patience.

UPDATED 5.30 pm: The watermain repair on Wall Street has been completed and service is back to normal.
We extend a big thank‑you to Davis Ventures for their fast response and excellent work.

Jun 25, 2026, 4:00 pm at the Legion

Present:

• VAID Trustees Ron Smith, Jane Waterman, Jennifer Moore, and John Colongard
• VAID Employees Joseph Scott (Project Manager) and Sandra Haszard (Administrator)
• 7 community members

Ron welcomed everyone and reminded the group that the grant covers all project costs. Installs are nearly complete and the project is proceeding well.

Several benefits this project has already delivered:

• All connections are now identified — previously about one‑third were unknown.
• Two steel pipes we didn’t know were still in use were located and documented.
• Some leaks have been identified. Of the meters online so far, four major private‑property leaks were found. After owners were notified, total metered consumption dropped by more than half.
• Repairing leaks will reduce treatment costs — salt, chlorine, resin, UV parts, power, and labour.

2027 will be a mock‑billing year. Rates and billing structure are still under discussion. The existing rate model will change from paying for a set volume (with extra charges for exceeding it) to paying for actual metered use.

After the project is complete, owners will pay for the meter in new connections.

Once installed, meters must be activated with a special tool. After activation, details are sent to Neptune to add the meter to the system. Currently, 105 meters are fully online, another 100 are expected online next week, and the remainder by August.

A slide show was presented with anonymized screenshots from the admin system to show how this information can be used to monitor and manage water use.

JS showed the setter, meter, and antenna. The antennas are designed to withstand being driven over, but not to be placed in the middle of the road where heavier traffic occurs.

If vandalism occurs, VAID receives an alert from the software system that detects damage.

A short video was played showing how customers access their data: https://neptunetg.wistia.com/medias/v8ys7iylct

Admin receives leak notifications daily and will alert customers to any new leaks.

SH spoke about billing – more details are in the VAID Meter Project – Report for Community Update Jun 2026

Billing – Key Points

• Rates cannot be set yet — we still need full meter data to know total use, leakage, private vs. system leaks, and the first‑year metered budget. “Until all meters are installed and producing steady data, we cannot calculate the base rate or the consumption rate.”
• Old Tolls & Taxes rates do not apply to metered billing.
• Parcel Tax remains unchanged and is not tied to water use.
• Meters already show major leaks and have reduced communitywide use significantly.
• We need all meters online before we can measure system leakage vs. private leakage — essential for a fair rate model.
• Mock billing will run through 2027; real metered billing begins 2028. Mock bills show hypothetical charges only — no payment required.
• Experts recommend a simple two‑part bill (fixed + consumption) and waiting on tiered rates until a full year of stable data is available.
• Billing frequency options: quarterly, annual, or hybrid. Frequency does not affect leak detection.
• No decisions on rates or billing frequency will be made until meters are fully online, leakage is known, the metered‑year budget is set, and mock billing is complete.

A community member mentioned that several people have comments or concerns but prefer not to attend meetings or reach out directly. If this sounds like you, please get in touch. Your input matters, and we want to hear from you!

A complete fire ban remains in effect due to Texada Island’s unique conditions. Please stay vigilant and do your part to reduce wildfire risk in our community.

Fire Fighting Equipment Upgrades

We are pleased to share that recent CEPF grant funding has strengthened our wildfire response capacity. New equipment includes an additional forestry pump and portable water tank, wildfire-suited protective gear, as well as hoses, radios, a thermal imaging device, and specialized tools. We have also purchased a cargo trailer that will be stocked with firefighting essentials and ready for rapid deployment when needed. These upgrades support safer and more effective response efforts.

Stage 2 Water Restrictions Begin July 1

Stage 2 water restrictions will take effect starting July 1 to help manage summer demand and protect system capacity. Key measures include:

• Lawn watering limited to one hour, once per week.
• No watering during daytime peak heat hours
• Restrictions on non-essential outdoor water use such as outside surface washing

These steps are necessary to ensure reliable water supply during the high-demand season. Details at vananda-id.ca/water-restrictions/

Water Meter Project

Thank you to everyone who attended the June 25 public meeting on water meter project updates. We appreciate all engagement from the community.
Meeting notes and materials are now available on our website for those who were unable to attend or would like to review the information.

System Improvements and Reduced Usage

We would like to thank residents who have taken action to identify and fix leaks. Your efforts are making a measurable difference.
Following outreach in early June—when water production was nearing system capacity—to four residences with very high usage, overall production dropped by approximately half. This reduction occurred even though the meter installation program is only about halfway complete, highlighting the impact of increased awareness and early monitoring.

Contact Info

604 486 7035 – contact@vananda-id.ca – vananda-id.ca – WATER EMERGENCY: 1 672 882 9901

Fire Chief: Mark Robert –604-414-9662 –firechief@vananda.ca – FIRE EMERGENCY: 9-1-1

Community Meeting: June 25, 2026 – 4:00 PM, Royal Canadian Legion, Van Anda

The Van Anda Improvement District (VAID) is holding a community meeting on June 25 at 4:00 PM at the Legion to provide an update on the Meter Project, future billing options, and how residents will access their personal water use data. This report summarizes the information that will be presented and is being shared in advance so residents can review the key points.

Download the report

We are currently operating at or near maximum water production capacity, with the pump running continuously (close to 24 hours per day).

Please help us manage demand by keeping an eye out for any potential leaks. If you have recently activated an automatic watering or irrigation system, we strongly encourage you to inspect it carefully for leaks or inefficiencies.

Your cooperation is essential in helping us maintain a reliable water supply for everyone. Thank you for your support.

A complete fire ban is now in effect due to increasing fire danger across the region. This includes backyard burning, burn barrels, and all open fires.

We extend our thanks to all the Texada Island volunteer firefighters for their continued work as conditions dry out. Please follow all restrictions and remain vigilant to help keep the community safe.

Are you interested in joining your local volunteer Fire Department? Please contact Fire Chief Mark Robert at 604-414-9662 for more information

Water Meter Project – Progress and System Improvements                

The water meter installation project continues to move forward. As of mid May, 178 meters have been installed, with 56 remaining across both Davis Ventures and VAID crews. Although the project is running slightly behind schedule, substantial completion is now expected in August.

The project is already producing benefits. Several leaks have been identified through meter data and field work, allowing repairs that reduce unnecessary water loss and improve system efficiency.

Public Information Meeting – Late June

A public meeting will be held near the end of June to present metered billing options, explain how the system will work, and answer questions from property owners.

The confirmed date and details will be posted on the website as soon as they are finalized.

Water Use Rising – Please Be Prudent

Water use is increasing as we move into summer. Summer long weekends are historically one of the highest demand periods of the year.

While consumption remains lower following leak repairs completed in early 2025, we ask everyone to be especially mindful of water use during peak weekends to help maintain system stability.

Call for Contractors

The District continues to seek qualified contractors for upcoming small-scale infrastructure and maintenance work. This periodic call is part of our commitment to fairness and transparency, and is not a reflection on the performance of our current contractors, with whom we remain very satisfied. Interested contractors are encouraged to contact the office for details on current and future opportunities.

Contact Info

Office: 604 486 7035

Email: contact@vananda-id.ca

Website: vananda-id.ca

WATER EMERGENCY: 1 672 882 9901

A reminder that the backyard burn ban begins May 15, the same date that Stage 1 water restrictions come into effect.

Stage 1 water restrictions mean:

• Odd‑numbered houses may water on odd‑numbered days
• Even‑numbered houses may water on even‑numbered days
• Lawn watering is allowed once per week
• Filling or adding water to a swimming pool, hot tub, garden pond, or decorative fountain is permitted only between noon and 4 p.m.

Please be aware that the long weekend at the beginning of June is typically the highest water‑use period of the year. In some past years, system demand was so high that the water treatment plant had to be bypassed. While overall consumption remains lower following leak repairs completed in early 2025, we ask everyone to remain mindful of water use during these peak days.

The water meter project continues to move ahead. Approximately 60 percent of meter setters have now been installed, and installations are expected to be completed by the end of May. A public meeting in June or July will be held to present billing options and answer questions. More information will be posted on the website as it becomes available.

Finally, please remember that we want to hear from you. If you have questions, concerns, or suggestions, contact us. We value open communication and want to work together with the community to ensure everyone is informed and satisfied.

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

WATER EMERGENCY: 1-672-882-9901

The Minutes of the 2026 AGM, along with all reports presented at the meeting, are now available for review.

AGM 2026 Draft Minutes with Reports

Texada Volunteer Firefighters Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Committee Report

Members of the community are encouraged to review the materials.
For inquiries or clarification, please contact the VAID office.

This is your opportunity to hear updates on VAID operations, water system projects, and financial results for 2025.

• Agenda
• Minutes AGM Apr 26 2025
• Draft Financial Statements
• Trustee Candidate Package

If you believe changes are needed or want to understand how decisions are made, come to the AGM. Your voice matters.

This year, two Trustee positions are open for election.
If you — or someone you know — would like to help guide the future of our water system and community resources, we encourage you to step forward.

We look forward to seeing you there.