The District has returned to the annual seasonal fire restrictions that are in effect each year from May 15 to October 15.

What this means:

• The temporary Total Burning Ban, which included campfires, is no longer in effect.
• The annual Open Air Burning Ban remains in effect until October 15.
• Open air burning, backyard burning, and the use of burn barrels or incinerators are still prohibited.
• Residents should continue to check current provincial fire restrictions before lighting any campfire.
• Campfires must follow BC Wildfire regulations, including size limits (max 18″ x 18″).
• All fire activities must comply with local bylaws and any applicable BC wildfire restrictions.

Although conditions have improved, residents are reminded to exercise extreme caution and help reduce wildfire risk in our community.

For the first time on record, our system averaged 13 pump hours per day through July. This is a major operational achievement and reflects both strong system performance and continued conservation efforts across the community. Thank you to everyone who helped make this possible — it’s a milestone worth celebrating.

Leak & Usage Notices

Leak and high‑usage notices are being issued as more meter data comes online. Early responses have already reduced unnecessary demand and prevented several potential service issues. Your cooperation continues to make a real difference.

Meter Project Update

The physical installation portion of the Meter Project is now very close to completion. Final onboarding and activation work continues, with individual customer access expected once Neptune 360 is fully online. We appreciate everyone’s patience as we move into the final stages.

Fire Vigilance

Thank you to all residents for maintaining fire vigilance during ongoing high‑risk conditions. Your awareness and quick reporting help protect the entire community.

Fire Trailer Outfitting

The fire trailer continues to be prepared for rapid response and is currently being outfitted with shelving, hooks, and brackets. Once complete, it will be stocked with a variety of firefighting equipment to support organized and efficient deployment during emergencies. This upgrade will significantly improve readiness.

Volunteer Fire Department Recruitment The Van Anda Volunteer Fire Department is seeking new members. If you’re interested in serving your community and gaining emergency response skills, please reach out to Fire Chief Mark Robert for details.

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

Texada Island remains under a complete fire ban due to ongoing high‑risk conditions. Please continue to stay alert and help reduce wildfire risk in our community.

Welcome to Our New Assistant Water Operator

We are pleased to welcome Shawn Rachkowski to the VAID team as Assistant Water Operator. Shawn will be supporting daily operations, system maintenance, and the ongoing meter installation program.

Water Meter Project Update

The meter pilot project remains on track for substantial completion in August. Most meters are installed and Neptune 360 onboarding continues, with additional units being prepared for activation. Individual access to meter data will be available once all meters are online — expected in September, pending final installations and system activation.

Stage 2 Water Restrictions

Stage 2 water restrictions remain in effect, as is typical for this time of year. Limiting outdoor water use helps manage summer demand and protects system capacity during peak season. Thank you to all residents who continue to follow the guidelines.

Thank You for Leak Repairs, Usage Adjustments & Reporting

We appreciate residents who have repaired leaks on private property, adjusted their water use after being notified of high consumption, and reported leaks or other system concerns. These actions make a measurable difference and help maintain reliable service for the whole community.

Volunteer Fire Department Recruitment

The Van Anda Volunteer Fire Department is seeking new members. If you’re interested in serving your community, gaining emergency response skills, and supporting local safety, please reach out to Fire Chief Mark Robert for details.

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

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