Newsletters
- April 2024by Van Anda Improvement District
Hello Texada! Here are some notes from our last meeting, held March 13th
WATER LINE REPAIRS: A substantial leak on Earl St. resulted in our Water Treatment Plant going into alarm in the wee hours of the morning. A special THANK-YOU to Sylvia Praught and Ken Soles whose assistance and knowledge are very much appreciated. One leak on Columbia St. has been repaired and more require attention. Several other suspected leaks are under investigation and are being scheduled for repairs. A huge THANK-YOU goes out to the residents that advised us of water leaks. It makes a big difference to the whole system.
WATER QUALITY: The Water Quality Advisory continues. Specialized technicians have been to our Water Plant. More follow-up is required. Vancouver Coastal Health reports no issues from the monthly water testing. Test results are posted in the window of our office at the Fire Hall.
MEETINGS: The next Regular Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday April 10th 1:30pm at the Fire Hall. The Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Saturday April 20 at the Legion. We are inviting community members to join us prior to the start of the AGM. The intent is to have a look at maps, drawings and photographs of water system repairs and installation. Perhaps you will be able to help us identify what we are looking at.
FIREFIGHTERS NEEDED! No experience necessary. Training, gear, and on-duty insurance coverage provided. Phone or text Acting Chief Mark Robert for more information 604-414-9662 or email firechief@vananda.ca
CONTACT INFO Email: contact@vananda-id.ca – Phone: 604-486-7035 – Website: vananda-id.ca
NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to our newsletter at vananda-id.ca/subscriptions
- March 2024by Van Anda Improvement District
Hello Texada! Here are some notes from our last meeting, held February 14th
WINTER WATER USE: Please continue to check for leaks that can develop after freeze/thaw cycles. We encourage you to insulate your outdoor water lines in lieu of letting water continue to run. More information is available at vananda-id.ca/winter
WATER LINE REPAIRS: Leaks have been repaired on Copper Queen St. and Columbia St. Several other suspected leaks are under investigation and are being scheduled for repairs. A huge THANK-YOU goes out to the residents that advised us of water leaks. It makes a big difference to the whole system. The water line on lower Blewett St. has been replaced.
WATER METERS: A recent substantial water leak has shown us that a water meter reading can identify unknown leaks. Water meters also help us identify anomalies in water usage. As such, we plan to start adding water meters to help detect leaks and gather statistical usage data. The next installations will be at the homes of our Trustees, beginning in the spring.
WATER QUALITY: The Water Quality Advisory continues. Specialized technicians have been engaged to assist us in improving the current situation.
MEETINGS: The next Regular Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday March 13th 1:30pm at the Fire Hall.
The Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Saturday April 20 at the Legion.
THANK-YOU: To Wendy Davis for the two beautiful plaques she created using California Redwood staves from the old water tank. One in memory of Walter Gussman acknowledging his immense contribution to the continued development of VAID’s water system and one for Mike Craggs in recognition of his years of service and dedication as Fire Chief with the Van Anda Volunteer Fire Department.
CONTACT INFO Email: contact@vananda-id.ca – Phone: 604-486-7035 – Website: vananda-id.ca
NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to our newsletter at vanandaid.ca/subscriptions - February 2024by Van Anda Improvement District
Hello Texada! Here are some notes from our last meeting, held Jan 14.
THANK YOU to all who have paid their annual invoices promptly!
WINTER WATER USE has increased considerably. Please check for leaks that can develop after freeze/thaw cycles, especially in outside fixtures. We are aware that some residents keep water running to avoid freezing of water lines and encourage you to insulate your water lines. Please contact us if you need assistance with this. More information is available at vananda-id.ca/winter/
LEAK REPAIR: a substantial leak was repaired on Sturt Bay Rd. Several suspected leaks are under investigation; please contact us if you have any information that could help.
ANNUAL INVOICES for Water Tolls and Parcel Taxes were mailed in early January. If you have not received yours, please contact us. Invoices are due March 10 and payment plans are available. Payment options and plan information are available on VAID’s webpage vananda-id.ca/payments/
COURT OF REVISION will be held Saturday February 10th from 10 am till noon. The annual Court of Revision is for trustees to listen and resolve issues regarding water tolls and parcel tax assessments. Please contact us first so we can gather the required information and set up an appointment. An appointment is not required, however having one will speed up the process.
MEETING DATES CORRECTION: The dates given in the Annual Newsletter were incorrect, including the AGM date. Apologies for any confusion caused.
The Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Saturday April 20 at the Legion.
Regular Board Meetings in 2024 are scheduled for Feb 14, Mar 13, Apr 10, May 15, June 12, July 10, Aug 14, Sept 11, Oct 16, Nov 13, Dec 11.
FIRE DEPARTMENT: A fire was attended in January which started from a compost chemical reaction. Composting can produce a large amount of heat, even in the cold weather, so compost piles and bins should be located away from any structures or flammable material.
FIREFIGHTERS NEEDED! No experience necessary. Training, gear, and on-duty insurance coverage provided. Phone or text Acting Chief Mark Robert for more information 604-414-9662 or email firechief@vananda.ca
CONTACT INFO Email: contact@vananda-id.ca – Phone: 604-486-7035 – Website: vananda-id.ca
NEXT MEETING: Residents are encouraged to join us for regular Board Meetings. Next meeting is Wednesday Feb 14 at 1.30 at the Van Anda Firehall (upstairs).
- January 2024by VAID Admin Asst
VAID’s trustees and employees wish to acknowledge the immense contribution Walter Gussman made to the continued development of our water system. His knowledge, insight and expertise helped us through several challenges over many years. His recent passing has affected many in our community and beyond. He will be truly missed.
Mike Craggs has retired as Fire Chief and he will also be greatly missed. Mike gave so much of himself to the Van Anda Fire Department over the years. We wish him the best for the future.
Mark Robert will continue as Acting Fire Chief for now.
Annual invoices for Water Tolls and Parcel Taxes will be sent to property owners in early January. Even though the last year brought many cost increases, we managed to keep the rate increase down to less than 6% for most residents. Payment is due on March 10 and payment plans are available.
NEXT MEETING: Residents are encouraged to join us for regular Board Meetings. Next meeting is Wednesday Jan 17th 1.30 Van Anda Firehall (upstairs).
- December 2023by Van Anda Improvement District
Hello Texada! Here are a few notes from our last regular board meeting, held Nov 15th.
WATER: Testing for residential leaks is well underway and several leaks have been detected. Testing is performed by measuring the water pressure where the water enters the house, while no water is being used. If the pressure drops, there’s a leak. If a leak is detected, the homeowner is provided with information and given a date that the repair must be completed by.
We are also installing meters on residences where excessive water use has been reported or is suspected. We will monitor the water use at first, and if the meter readings show that water use is higher that acceptable, the owner will be charged at metered rates and invoiced for the meter installation costs. You might be surprised at how high these costs can become! The rates can be found in the Water Tolls Bylaw.
One of the filter systems at the water treatment plant has been problematic recently. Many operator hours and extra cartridge filter use has been used to keep up with water production while the issue is being solved.
While water is being drawn by the pump on the raft, which is working nicely, work is being done on the intake well. A crack is present in the well casing where water can seep in from around the well. We are now considering how to move forward with this issue.
Remember to insulate your pipes rather than leaving your water running to prevent freezing.
FIRE PROTECTION: We received a donation from the Halloween Ball. THANK YOU to Lizetta Hanley and everyone who took part.
Regular fire practice is on Monday evenings. Please contact acting Fire Chief Mark Robert at 604-414-9662 for more info.
CONTACT: Email contact@vananda-id.ca Phone: 604-486-7035 Website: vananda-id.ca
NEXT MEETING: Residents are encouraged to join us for regular Board Meetings. Next meeting is Wednesday Dec 13th 1.30 Van Anda Firehall (upstairs).
- November 2023by Van Anda Improvement District
Hello Texada! Here are a few notes from our last regular board meeting, held Oct 18th.
WATER: Water use is back to pre-summer levels, so Water Restrictions have been lifted.
September’s water treatment was usually between 67 to 79 thousand US gallons per day. This is about half of our production capacity. (More water data can be seen here.)
With winter approaching, this is a good time to ensure water lines are protected from freezing with insulation or heating tape. Running hoses or taps to prevent freezing is very wasteful of our water and increases our costs. More information available at vananda-id.ca/winter.
One new application for a residential service has been received for a property on Coleborn. We expect an engineer’s report shortly on how the Wall St properties will be affected by planned new connections to the properties added to the ID last year.
A reminder, VAID’s water operators and office staff are to be treated with respect.
FIRE PROTECTION: We are investigating increasing the District Boundaries to be able provide Fire Protection to more properties. Areas being considered for addition are Crescent Bay, Spectacle Lake, Kirk Lake, and Raven Bay. Several property owners have already submitted the form to be included in the District. If you are interested in joining this group, please contact us.
Van Anda firefighters have completed more training with the Gillies Bay Fire Department. Regular fire practice is on Monday evenings. Please contact acting Fire Chief Mark Robert at 604-414-9662 for more info.
CONTACT: Email contact@vananda-id.ca Phone: 604-486-7035 Website: vananda-id.ca
NEXT MEETING: Residents are encouraged to join us for regular Board Meetings. Next meeting is Wednesday NOV 15th 1.30 Van Anda Firehall (upstairs).
- October 2023by Van Anda Improvement District
Hello Texada! Here are a few notes from our last regular board meeting, held Sep 13th.
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 18th 1.30 Van Anda Firehall (upstairs).
- September 2023by Van Anda Improvement District
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 16th.
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 13th
- August 2023by Van Anda Improvement District
Hello Texada! Here are a few notes from our last Van Anda Improvement District (VAID) regular board meeting held Jul 12th.
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 16th at 1:30pm, upstairs at the fire hall in Van Anda.
- July 2023by Van Anda Improvement District
Hello Texada! Here are a few notes from our last Van Anda Improvement District (VAID) regular board meeting held June 14th.
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 12th at 1:30pm, upstairs at the fire hall in Van Anda.
- June 2023by Van Anda Improvement District
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.
- May 2023by Van Anda Improvement District
Annual Open Burning Ban in effect from May 15 until October 15. More information can be found online at vananda-id.ca/fire-restrictions/
Leak Detection on Private Property Water loss through leaks is still a significant issue in Van Anda. Water operators Austin Rycroft and Michael Smith will be checking for leaks on private property during the next few months. The process takes just a few minutes and requires only that you turn off water using devices for the short duration of the test. They will speak with you before proceeding with testing and can arrange for another time that is more convenient if necessary.
Water Conservation – Stage 1 started as usual on April 1. Stage 2 begins May 15.
In all stages,
- Water hoses must be equipped with a handheld automatic shut off nozzle.
- Hand watering is to be done by a handheld container or a handheld hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle.
- 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.
STAGE 1 water conservation April 1 – May 15
- Watering lawns with sprinkler: maximum one hour, at any time of day, one day a week.
- Hand watering and sprinklers to water trees, shrubs, flowers, and vegetables: maximum of one hour, at any time, on any day.
- Washing vehicle or boat: only between 6:00 pm and 10:00 pm
- Adding water to a swimming pool, hot tub, garden pond or fountain: only between 6:00 pm and 10:00 pm.
STAGE 2 water conservation begins May 15
The full chart of water restrictions can be accessed at vananda-id.ca/water-conservation-bylaw/
If you have any questions or comments about these or any other matters, please email contact@vananda-id.ca or phone 604-486-7035. Consider attending VAID’s regular board meetings – everyone is always welcome. Meetings for the remainder of 2023 are on Wednesdays at 1.30 on May 17, Jun 14, Jul 12, Aug 16, Sep 13, Oct 18, Nov 15, Dec 13 and are held upstairs at the Firehall.
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