Updates

SSID AGM was August 2. At the 45th Annual General Meeting, Chair Trustee Bryan Miles summarized the past year. There was a review of the Upper Tank replacement cost, and new considerations regarding the steel tower. The Operator's report provided an update on the status of the water system infrastucture. The trustees presented two options for dealing with Groundwater at Risk of Pathogens. and there was discussion in about it. The administrator presented the financial report. Brian Hester was acclaimed for the term from AGM 2026 to AGM 2028, replacing Bryan Miles who had chosen to retire after 20 years as a trustee. Minutes of the 2026 AGM are now posted, and are considered draft until amended or adopted at the 2027 AGM.

SSID Choice: continuous chlorination, or permanent Water Quality Advisory. The Drinking Water Officer at Vancouver Coastal Health has advised that SSID water is susceptible to enteric viruses that can cause illness. As a condition of SSID's permit to operate, we are instructed to either (a) treat the drinking water or (b) go on a permanent Water Quality Advisory. There is no report of viruses or illness at this time. But there is potential for viruses. For details, see webpage Groundwater at Risk of Pathogens.

SSID discussed the two options at the Annual General Meeting on August 2. The trustees will review the discussion, and use it to craft a survey that will be sent to all owners. The choice will be an important community decision. We urge all SSID property owners to consider the options and respond in the survey. We also welcome your comments now, to administrator@savaryshoreswater.ca

SSID must set aside $1,464,000 for a possible tank replacement in 2040. This sum is based on 20 line items modelled after the calculations provided by the 2024 engineering report on new tank options. In addition to the $85 per property tax increase previously budgeted for 2026, SSID has added another $400 per property to the Asset Renewal Levy. 

BACKGROUND
The first inspection of the upper tank, in 2023, indicated the 2 bottom plates of the tank had notable corrosion, with a problem area that had corroded to half its original steel thickness. Corrosion was removed in spring 2024, and the affected areas treated with a rust inhibitor and rust paint. The follow-up inspection in 2025 determined that the rust treatment appeared to have arrested the corrosion, and therefore the tank should last to 2040 or longer. The report also required that a tank inspection be done every 5 years, the first being 2030, to confirm that the tank is not degrading faster than predicted.

The findings at each 5-year inspection or sooner may change the tax plan going forward.

Excess Tolls for 2026 will be $2 per excess cubic meter. The toll has been increased to align with operational costs from excess water use.

The 2017 Fire Underwriter's Survey established Savary Shores Improvement District as "limited protection" rather than the previous rating "unprotected." The Dwelling Protection Grade was 4, and the Public Fire Protection Classification was 8 (out of 10, Grade-1 is highest). The FUS Survey was updated in 2020. SSID has not been re-examined or re-graded by FUS since 2017.