Calgary faces pressure to act quickly on water main replacement after recent pipe failures, with councillors divided on urgency and cost concerns
Calgary Council Debates Water Main Replacement Plans
Days after Calgary’s mayor urged spending to build a replacement water main due to two major breaks in 18 months, a city councillor is advising caution.
An independent panel report was released last Wednesday. Council questioned the panel late into the night before voting unanimously to begin work on the recommendations.
City administration will report back to council early next month on how to implement the report’s suggestions. The panel recommended an accelerated timeline to build a replacement pipe and a dedicated water utility department to better manage the system.
Caution Urged by Councillor
Ward 2 Coun. Jennifer Wyness stressed that council must ensure it is not making costly decisions for Calgarians in the long run, just because the water system is in crisis.
Calgary still has water restrictions after the Bearspaw line ruptured again on December 30, causing significant flooding in the city’s northwest.
“This infrastructure was installed between 1930 and the 1970s, and it’s all blowing up across North America. So let’s get it right,” Wyness said.
Concerns About Quick Decisions
Wyness added that rushing to twin the Bearspaw feeder main could lead to errors if the city does not plan properly for disruptions and the new pipe’s location.
She expressed worry that council is being pressured to act too quickly, which could lead to unnecessary costs or future breaks from poor planning.
Wyness also stated that now is not the right time to discuss a new water utility department.
Financial Considerations
“You do not start making organizational decisions during a failure of infrastructure,” Wyness said.
She wants to see more costing of the panel’s recommendations to understand how the changes could impact utility bills.
Ward 10 Coun. Andre Chabot has also expressed skepticism about the report’s recommendations, especially regarding a standalone corporation to manage water.
Support for Urgent Action
Other council members support more urgent action. Mayor Jeromy Farkas said he welcomes a robust debate but argued that the city cannot move too quickly to improve the water system’s reliability.
“We are committed to doing absolutely everything necessary to ensure that we solve this for good,” Farkas said.
Farkas emphasized that Calgarians need to know their water supply is safe and reliable.
Panel Chair’s Urgent Call
Siegfried Kiefer, the panel’s chair, stressed the need for council to act urgently on the report’s most timely recommendations. He expressed disappointment that council lumped all recommendations together instead of focusing on the most urgent concerns.
Kiefer said, “Let’s deal with the immediate now, let’s get emergency actions taken.”
He clarified that longer-term discussions about managing the city’s water supply can be debated later while prioritizing work to twin the pipe.
Transparency in Management
Kiefer emphasized the importance of transparency around the water utility and its management. He agreed that changes should be communicated well with residents.
“We need to present that completely transparently to the citizens,” Kiefer said.
| Event | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Bearspaw Line Rupture | December 30 | Significant flooding in northwest Calgary |
| Panel Report Release | Last Wednesday | Recommendations for water system improvements |
| Next Council Report | Early Next Month | Implementation of panel’s suggestions |
