Meter Pilot Project

Information sharing and concerns addressed. Last update: May 27, 2025

VAID is very pleased to announce that we successfully applied for a grant for $ 969,352.00 from the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs that will cover all the costs of purchasing and installing water meters to all our water connections.

Following is initial project information. More information will be added to address public concerns. A community meeting was held May 22; 19 members of the public attended along with 5 Trustees and 3 employees. Notes from the meeting can be seen on this page.

Please encourage folks to ask us if they have concerns or questions.

Provincial news release (BC Govt News website)

All Costs Covered

Eligible costs include the following (from the grant application):

• costs for purchase of water meters including ancillary data collection devices, radio or cellular data transmitters, and/or endpoints;
• costs for installing meters at customer connections including supporting materials and services such as meter boxes and landscape restoration (for pit installations);
• costs for meter data collection devices and infrastructure (“automated metering infrastructure”) and supporting software;
• costs directly related to procurement and installation of water meters, such as project planning, engineering, management, logistics and/or scheduling meter installations;
• costs related to customer communications about metering implementation and logistics;
• costs related to permitting, First Nations engagement, and archeological assessments, if required.

Expert Assistance is Provided

Assistance for planning, procurement, and implementation is being provided by KWL and Econics, who lead regular Teams meetings addressing all aspects of the project. Also present at the meetings are personnel from BC Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs with occasional guest speakers. More details of this process are included in the Terms of Reference PDF.

Budget

The amount of $969,352 applied for and received is a project estimate from a provider to complete the entire project. Our estimates of the project cost if VAID does some parts and contracts others is somewhat lower, giving room for unexpected cost. Download this document for details. It has not yet been decided if VAID will do some parts and contract out others, or will have the whole project completed by one provider.

Meter Location

Meters will be located in meter pits at the property line. Like current connections and meters, they will be property of VAID and accessible only by VAID’s water operators and designated representatives. Customers will be able to access their usage online.

Meter Reading

The meters will use cellular-based AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure), using existing cellular networks to collect meter data continuously.. Once in place, residents will be able to access their water data online, using a system like Neptune360.

A convenient, proactive way for consumers to monitor their own water consumption 24/7. Users no longer have to wait for a bill to detect possible issues, which means less water lost and fewer high bill complaints. Users can set water thresholds and out-of-town alerts for greater peace of mind. And water conservation is encouraged when consumers can see how much they actually use with easy-to-read charts and graphs.
Neptune My360 is web-based to work on all devices and is always up-to-date. Easily customize to your utility’s branding and get up and running quickly without the need for complex integrations.

Billing Structure

Customers will continue to be invoiced by VAID. No other authorities are involved with collecting Van Anda’s water system costs (apart from amounts owing when a property is sold).

Billing structure has not yet been determined. Dummy billing will be in place for a year before switching to live billing. This will allow us to collect the information needed to determine how to better proceed with billing. During the dummy billing period, customers will be informed of their water use and the cost if meter billing was in place. They will also be able to see their own water use and set notifications using their online account.

Privacy Concerns

This project is subject to FOIP. Data shared by communities to research teams will be anonymized before sharing.

Timeline

The Project guidelines state that meter installation must be completed by March 2027. We are currently focused on gathering information on existing connections, such as location, size, and condition; we are also preparing for procurement and requests for proposals.

Public Concerns

We attempt to address all concerns from the public. Here are some answers to recently posted concerns.

We already pay a substantial “parcel tax” which includes the annual water bill. Will this be removed and the metered amount charged instead?

Annual billing has 2 parts (more info at vananda-id.ca/water-rates/)

• Water Tolls – for the cost of water production (e.g. hydro, chlorine, salt, filters, labor)
• Parcel Taxes – for infrastructure costs (e.g. mains & water lines, leak detection & repair)

The Water Tolls portion is currently a flat rate for each residential connection. This part will be replaced with metered rates

Local district will set its own rates. Hopefully NOT more expensive than the $$ we are currently paying?

Customers are billed only what is needed to cover costs; this will continue once meter billing starts. Some will pay more and others will pay less.

The district will take its prices from what other districts charge?

Rates will be set to cover Van Anda water treatment costs; what other districts charge is irrelevant.

qPRRD seems very money hungry

qRD is not involved with this. Water is provided by Van Anda Improvement District; more info: vananda-id.ca/about/

The government won’t give VAID another grant if the current one is rejected?

It is extremely difficult for Improvement Districts to get ANY government grants. Provincial government policy encourages IDs to hand their assets and control to their Regional District so will not usually fund IDs.

Water meters are a cash grab?

Meter billing will replace flat tolls to cover water production costs only.

It makes it fair by installing meters.

Many residents have let us know they feel it is unfair for everyone to pay the same amount when water use varies so much per household. Residential metering will address this issue.

if you don’t use a drop, there will still be a minimum charge?

Parcel taxes will still be charged to pay for the infrastructure. vananda-id.ca/water-rates/ We have not yet decided on the meter billing structure. There may be a base charge to share the cost of water lost to mains leaks, or that cost will be built in to rates per cubic meter used.

costs that an individual homeowner can incur due to an unknown leak?

Administration will be notified immediately from the meter data monitoring software if use increases rapidly and will notify owner. Owners will also be able to set notifications on their own water use changes.

apply for forgiveness?

VAID Trustees are always willing to listen and work out a way of dealing with issues with owners.

these leaks can continue for years undetected

This is one of the main reasons why meters are being installed. Loss of water to leaks has been the main issue for VAID for several years.

The point of the meters is to generate yet more revenue?

Meter billing will be structured to cover the costs of water production only. It will replace the flat water tolls currently being charged.

Online accounts so we can monitor our usage?

Customers will be able to see their ongoing water use and set notifications if use changes.

it isn’t the water that is limited in Van Anda, it’s the pump system and clorinator we should be trying to preserve by using less water. Priest Lake is in no danger of drying up.

Priest Lake appears to have enough water at present. However, this could change with more of the extended droughts we have already seen in recent years. vananda-id.ca/van-anda-water-supply/

The treatment plant has a maximum capacity, which has been reached in times of high use/leaks. Water can still be provided if needs exceed the plant capacity, but it will be unfiltered and require much higher amounts of chlorine to be considered safe to drink. Our treatment plant filters, removes dissolved solids, and sterilizes with UV before adding chlorine. Chlorine only does not meet health regulations.

water is not scarce in Vananda, we will never drain Priest Lake?

More extended droughts may affect Priest Lake dramatically. It may not be drained, but raw water quality may deteriorate.

Now we no longer have winter rates for water, it’s summer rates all year long with restrictions on when you can use water and how much can be used. (not Van Anda)

Van Anda has had water restrictions in summer for many years. When water use decreases as a result of metering, there will be less need for restrictions.

I am opposed to govt overreach.

Improvements Districts are a very limited form of government that control only the utilities they provide, in Van Anda’s case, potable water and fire protection. ID’s must follow the Local Government Act but otherwise operate independently and are run by locally elected Trustees that must own property in the ID.

we pay taxes and we have plenty of water

Metering will not change the amount of money collected but it will be charged more fairly.

could the money be better spent replacing old worn pipes and upgrading the filter and pump system? they get a grant for meters, and not for the upgrades for asbestos cement pipes that keep breaking at 50% water loss from large leaks?

The funds received are for the Meter Pilot Program and can only be spent on that. VAID has applied for many grants to repair the pipes and has never been successful with those. It is extremely difficult for Improvement Districts to get any government grants. Prov government wants IDs to hand their assets and control to Regional Districts. It seems that most Van Anda residents do not want this to happen.

who’s going to read the meters and how much will that cost yearly?

The meters will use cellular-based AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure), using existing cellular networks to collect meter data. The meters do not need to be read manually. An automated billing system will be used, saving labor and administration hours.

Grant money aimed at more regulation instead?

Its more for information than regulation. The information from metering will be used for tracking leaks, to allow individuals to manage their own water use, reducing operating costs, and see the effects of water restrictions.

The Provincial Meter Pilot Program was started to address water scarcity in BC, a real issue identified by water providers sharing their information in the Water Survey. The program includes a fully funded, automated water meter installation and a research component to identify the value to communities. VAID is participating in the pilot program to provide data and develop strategies to aid other communities interested in implementing automated metering plans. VAID is among 19 small, rural, and First Nations communities selected to participate based on the specific criteria for the pilot program.

Key benefits of universal metering include:

• Tracking leaks to identify losses to the water system
• Aiding residents in managing their water use, leading to potential savings on utility bills
• Helping to identify the effectiveness of water restrictions during periods of concern
• Reducing the operational costs of the water system

I hope they post minutes of the meeting.

Notes from the meetings will be posted and the website updated to answer questions and concerns that arise from meetings and other sources.

when you let newbies come in and trust them to run things. ….best interests of everyone.

Trustees are elected at the AGM by local owners who chose to attend.  Trustees live in Van Anda and do this work as volunteers. All owners of property in the ID who are able to vote Provincially can vote for and run for position of Trustee.

expect an increase of 50% on your water bill to start? Expect restrictions on when you can use water and for what purpose?

Some people will have a large increase, especially if there is a leak on their property or they are otherwise careless of water use. Others will pay much less than previously. Restrictions are already in place and there may be less need for them as water use decreases.

fines if you are found to be going against all the new rules?

VAID does not fine, however we do collect payment to cover costs of unreasonably high water use.  

no watering lawns or washing vehicles?

These restrictions have been in place for many years. Metering should decrease the need for restrictions if total water use decreases.

Don’t let them meter your water? It’s a money grab and all about control?

This is not a “cash grab” and the control introduced is beneficial to consumer as well as the ID. The customer will be able to monitor their own water use on an ongoing basis and set notifications for changes in use. The ID will be better able to identify leaks, cut operational costs, and learn how to better control this precious resource. This will help us all to keep control of the water system locally. Improvements Districts are a very limited form of government that control only the utilities they provide, in Van Anda’s case, potable water and fire protection.

WHO applied for a water meter grant without consulting the community as this is NOT our community priority ever , over replacing worn out pipes and breaks? That grant should never have been applied for without community consultation?

Universal meter installation has been previously identified by the Trustees to benefit the Van Anda water system, by addressing issues such as high water use, leak identification, and billing fairness, but costs of installation were prohibitive.

VAID applies for grants regularly but usually is not successful. Grant applications to replace the pipes have never succeeded. Provincial government wants IDs to hand their assets and control to Regional Districts. It seems that most Van Anda residents do not want this to happen.

Grant application is part of the job description of the Administrator. Please attend a board meeting (always open to the public, dates in the Express Lines and our meetings page vananda-id.ca/meetings-minutes/) if you have concerns about how things are run. Or consider running for Trustee!

Questions or Comments?

This page is open for discussion. We will do our best to answer your questions.