Subject: October 2026 Update
Dear RRID Community,
Please find the following notes and updates for August and September 2026 from the team at the Robson-Raspberry Improvement District.
News and Recent Events
- Crews continue to discover and repair major distribution leaks during water meter pit installations, which saves water.
- Stage 1 Watering Restrictions were lifted on September 30th as part of our normal schedule.
- A big thanks to our operators and contractors for helping our community avoid Stage 2 Restrictions this past summer!
- Months since last system water quality advisory: 2
- Months since last system boil water notice: 40
Water Quantity and Quality
- Demand is the sum of leakage and consumption.
- Summer (July-Aug) demand was down about 15% from last year at roughly 2,750 L/connection/d.
- This is near the limit of what the current plant is capable of without a Stage 2 Restriction or upgrade.
- September demand was down 42% from last year at 1,650 L/connection/d.
- Treated water turbidity this summer was less than 0.1 NTU. Crystal clear.
Repairs and Upgrades
- The McDiarmid / Lower Foxlee neighbourhood has non-potable plastic distribution piping. We have installed over land feed to affected homes per regulator guidance. WSA Engineering has designed the piping replacement. Marwest and a specialist contractor will be installing a new feeder main pipe through the neighbourhood’s existing pipe during the month of October. As part of this work, the Upper Foxlee feeder main will be relocated to the boulevard.
- On September 24, the raw water settling pond was de-sludged by a crew of 4 over the course of a full day. The pond receives pulses of sediment from driveways upstream during storm events. Removal of sediment in the pond helps protect sensitive treatment equipment.
- Ultrafiltration Train No. 3 suffered a catastrophic pipe failure in late September and is offline for repair. We are grateful the failure did not occur during summer high demand (emergency narrowly avoided).
- Although we made good progress with fixing leaks in recent months, new leaks continue to arise in the distribution system. Pressure has been fluctuating as a result, and Operations staff have been responding accordingly. Reminder that each home should have a pressure reducing valve installed, as we need to ensure the end of the line, and the fire department, have sufficient mainline pressure.
- Leaks are hard to find. Please reach out if you hear any running water in your basement or see unusually green or spongy sections of turf.
Water Meters
- In 2026 the RRID was awarded $4M by the province to participate in a home water meter pilot study. Over the last year, the distribution system was mapped using modern tools and meter pits installed. To date only 11-meter pits remain to be installed at property boundaries. The next phase of work will be to install the water meter devices inside the underground pits, which will begin later this month and will require contractors access the pits.
- In 2027, the RRID hopes to hire a consultant to provide options for a new billing structure based on meter data.
RDCK Acquisition
- On January 14th, 2026, a public open house was held with the RDCK at Robson Hall regarding system acquisition.
- During the month of March 2026, the community voted in favour of exploring acquisition of our water system by the RDCK.
- Over the summer, the RDCK then conducted a technical-economic analysis of what an acquisition could entail.
- The next step is an open house and then a public vote on whether the community is in favour of the conversion, meaning Robson-Raspberry owners will have their say. The date for the referendum will be assigned sometime this winter and there will be ample notice ahead of time.
Watershed
- The RRID was awarded fresh grant funds from the Regional District to create a Source Water Protection Plan for our 200 km2 watershed. Western Water Associates Ltd has been retained to produce the Plan and inspected the watershed on October 7th. This initiative will identify and help protect against major risks to source drinking water quality and quantity for the next generation.
- The RRID board reached out to several water user groups in the Pass Creek watershed for support on watershed signs. All parties contacted declined.
- Excessive algae growth in the watershed was noted this summer, which caused multiple fouling events in our strainers.
- The unmanaged Rec Sites and Trails campsite first saw campers in early April and remained busy throughout the summer.
Taxes and Tolls
- The RRID outlined its position on taxes and tolls in the March 2026 Ratepayer Summary, which describes the outcome of the 2026 asset planning study. The Ratepayer Summary was handed out at the 2026 AGM and is available on our website.
Your neighbours,
The Robson-Raspberry Improvement District
Our Community. Our Water.
Thanks,
Paul Markin
RRID Trustee
HOT WATER TANK BULLETIN: Click Here
ROBSON-RASPBERRY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT WATER SYSTEM HAS ISSUED A WATER QUALITY ADVISORY DUE TO: SPRING RUNOFF
People with weakened immune systems, and/or wishing additional protection should take precautions when drinking, washing fruits & vegetables, making beverages or ice, or when brushing teeth.
Until notified, these users are advised to:
- Bring water to a rolling boil for at least 1 minute, or
- Use an alternate, safe source of water.
For more information contact RRID Office at [email protected] or 250-365-3404
Click Here for IHA Water Quality Advisory Information
RRID Open House Follow-up - This will continue to get populated as we recieve the documents, Once we have all the documents we will send out an email alert and a reminder to all residents we are doing a planned 10% rate increase.
Jan 14, 2026 Meeting Minutes - Available Here
RDCK Public Meeting #1 Presentation - Presentation Here
RDCK Acquisition Flowchart - Flow chart here
XenonCyber & Urban Systems Presentation on Assest condition -
RRID Water System Assets Planning Study - Summary
RRID Water System Assets Planning Study - Full Report
RRID Area Distribution Map
Additional Information provided by the RDCK.
Acquisition Website - https://www.rdck.ca/environmental-service/environmental-services/water/becomeardckwaterservice/
Water Regulatory Bylaw - https://www.rdck.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2894-RPL-2824-Water-Bylaw.pdf
Utilities, Fees and Charges Bylaw - https://www.rdck.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/3027-Utilities-Rates-Combined.pdf
Community Advisory Committee Bylaw - https://www.rdck.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2858-Drainage-Water-Wastewater-CAC-1.pdf
RRID & Mountain Ridge Road Users Cooperative Association - The documents pertaining to the Norms Creek bridge as per the open house request. Judges Ruling Here
Some Brief Key Points from the court case.
Time-limited easement ended:
In 1999, RRID and MRRUC entered into a temporary (time-limited) access easement for the bridge/road. The Court found that the easement ended in 2019 and was not renewed. The decision also notes the bridge/road was built without permission from the Ministry of Transportation and Highways or RRID, and that RRID had water supply concerns because the community’s water intake is downstream and sediment from the road/bridge was believed to negatively affect the water system.
Quote: “the time-limited easement … expired on March 1, 2019 and has not been renewed.”
MoTI / Highways (Aug. 11, 1989) — permission denied:
Quote: “we are standing by our original decision not to allow legal vehicle access to Pass Creek Road at the point you desire.”
Good-faith negotiations (RRID):
The Court confirmed both parties had a duty to negotiate renewal in good faith. It found RRID did not negotiate in bad faith, and also commented on MRRUC’s conduct during negotiations.
Quotes: “RRID did not negotiate in bad faith and did not unreasonably withhold consent.” and “If either party failed to negotiate with good faith, it was MRRUC, not RRID.”
Reasonableness of RRID’s approach:
The Court described RRID’s approach as measured and reasonable, and noted RRID made concessions during renewal talks (including increasing an offer from 10 years to 20 years) and extending deadlines.
Quotes: “RRID’s actions were measured and reasonable.” & “It initially proposed a ten-year easement and later increased it to a 20-year easement.”
-------------------Archived Below---------------------------
RRID Open House – RDCK Water Systems Discussion - December 27, 2025 - Reminder sent Jan 13, 2026
**New Information - Rough Agenda
Please review the Draft Agenda Here
RRID will be hosting an open house with representatives from RDCK Water Systems on January 14 at 6:00 PM. The town hall will be held at the Robson Hall located at 3067 Waldie Ave, Robson BC.
The purpose of this meeting is to:
- explain what it could look like for RRID to join RDCK Water Systems, and
- gauge public interest in moving forward.
We strongly encourage all RRID customers to attend. This is the first step in determining whether RRID remains its own entity or pursues joining RDCK.
Please DO NOT call the administrator and ask for information. Information will be provided at the meeting, and circulated after the fact. The administrator will not have the answers you're seeking until after the meeting and clarification has been handed down to her.
Questions and Q&A
There will be a Q&A session. To attempt to ensure accurate and complete answers, we ask that you submit your questions in advance by email:
- Email: [email protected]
- Subject line: Open House Question
What will be covered (so you don’t need to email these)
The meeting will include standard information such as:
- how the joining process works
- what it means to be part of RDCK Water Systems
- anticipated costs and what may change (and what may not)
- potential pros and cons, as currently understood by the Board
Important clarification
RRID can only join the RDCK Water Systems if customers vote in favour. We will be having another public meeting after this, and eventually a vote but in order to aquire the proper information needed for the public to make an informed decision its extremely important for everyone to attend.
Reminder of Mild Weather Source Qater Quality - December 13, 2025
Dear RRID residents,
As we enter late autumn, we want to remind everyone that this is one of the two times each year (late autumn and late spring) when our Norns Creek source water is naturally prone to reduced raw water quality. Mild weather and rainfall higher in the watershed mobilize organic material left over from snowmelt and the changing seasons, causing temporary increasing color, turbidity, and dissolved natural organic matter in the raw water entering the treatment plant.
These seasonal conditions challenge our UV disinfection system, which relies on clearer water to be fully effective. Please be assured that the water treatment plant is currently providing full conventional treatment plus UV disinfection and the treated water continues to meet all health-related drinking water standards.
This is simply our routine seasonal reminder that “it’s that time again.” We will continue to monitor conditions closely and will notify you immediately if additional steps (such as a quality advisory) ever become necessary.
Thank you for your understanding; these brief, predictable challenges are a normal part of protecting public health within a dynamic mountain watershed.
RRID Administration
Stage 2 Water Restrictions Now in Effect - June 09, 2025
The water treatment plant is not able to keep up with water demand. Water demand is due to residential use and leaks in the distribution system. We have no other option than to elevate water use restrictions to Stage 2 as of today.
All Water Restrictions found by clicking here
Stage 2 Specific Restrictions are as followed:
• lawn sprinkling prohibited. Absolutely no lawn sprinkling allowed.
• watering of gardens (vegetable & flower) only, no other outdoor water use permitted.
• watering of gardens allowed by sprinkler from 6 am – 9 am on your day only.
• one sprinkler per property only.
What you can do to help:
Other than reducing use at this time, residents ought to be on the lookout for a leak in the distribution system piping. This can be identified by low water pressure at home, spongy waterlogged ground, or unusually green grass.
Water Meter Grant Pilot Program:
The Robson-Raspberry Improvement District (RRID) is pleased to announce we have been selected to partake in a pilot study that is funded by the government to install water meters at every service connection. We had been instructed by the government that we could not announce it until they had the opportunity to officially announce it, and as of May 6th they have!
Please see the following news release for more information
https://news.gov.bc.ca/
We have a lot of information coming down the pipeline on this, but we can now begin sharing it. Please wait on sending information requests to the RRID in regards to the meters as we are working on creating an FAQ and giving more details at the AGM May 21, 2025 at 7pm.
We will also be looking into hosting a Water Meter meeting open to the public in the near future.
Thank you and hopefully we will see you at the AGM!
Robson-Raspberry Improvement District.
Robson-Raspberry Improvement District Annual General Meeting & Call for Nominations for Board of Trustees
Date: May 21, 2025
Time: 7:00pm
Where: Robson Community Hall
This AGM you will have the opportunity to vote to fill two positions on the RRID Board of Trustees.
Voter and Trustee Eligibility—Improvement District trustees are elected by eligible landowners within the improvement district boundary. Persons entitled to vote or run as a nominee must:
• Be a Canadian Citizen
• Be 18 years of age, or older
• BE a resident of B.C. for at least 6 months prior to the vote
• OWN land in the improvement district
To put your name forward as a nominee to serve on the RRID Board of Trustees
email [email protected] stating your intention to run by May 2, 2025.
As per voting guidelines, nominations from the floor of the AGM will not be accepted.
Water Quality Advisory Lifted: April 29th, 2025
Source water quality in Norns Creek has recently improved and appears stable. The UV system is reliably meeting its dosage target, and so the Water Quality Advisory is hereby lifted.
Freshet events are still expected later in the spring. The RRID will continue to monitor the system, and will provide further updates if and when required.
Water Quality Advisory Issued: March 14, 2025
Initial Release:
The RRID is required to treat source water from Norns Creek according to the provincial 4-3-2-1 Objectives for drinking water. Maintaining a minimum UV dose is part of this requirement and one which the RRID takes seriously. However during mild conditions in our watershed, which periodically occur in the winter and spring, our source water quality becomes more challenging to treat as melting snow and/or heavy rain carry natural organic matter into the creek. Even though the water is still filtered to 0.03 microns, a non-filterable (dissolved) component in the water inhibits the UV transmittance through the water. This means that although we may still be operating the UV reactors, the UV dose falls below the regulated minimum criteria, and a Water Quality Advisory must be issued to protect the immunocompromised. This condition is usually short lived, as once the period of snow-melt or heavy rain subsides, the source water quality improves and the UV reactors are able to meet their dosage setpoints. During such periods, residents may sometimes notice a change in the water such as an amber colour. This represents the dissolved natural organic matter which has found its way into the creek and is not removable by our water treatment plant.
Recommendations:
IHA Official Water Quality Advisory information:
For Immunocompromised Individuals: As a precaution, it is recommended to boil water for at least 1 minute before consuming, cooking, brushing teeth, or washing food. This is an IHA guideline for vulnerable indivduals during such advisories.
For All Other Individuals: The current treatment processes are generally sufficient; however, if you notice a strong chlorine smell in your water, running your taps can help flush the system.
We appreciate your patience as we work through these technical challenges.
Contact Information:
For emergencies: Call 250-309-2727
For non-emergencies: Email us at [email protected] or use the “Contact Us” button on our website: https://robsonraspberry.myruralwater.com/contact-us
Thank you,
Robson Raspberry Improvement District
