Calgary water main repairs may not fully resolve ongoing issues

Calgary Water Restrictions Update

City of Calgary officials say water restrictions may ease early next week. Mayor Jeromy Farkas states that repairs to the Bearspaw South Feeder Main are not a guaranteed fix.

The update on Saturday follows the installation of a new pipe after a major rupture on December 30. Crews have begun slowly filling the pipe with water and are restoring service, but it will take days before it is fully operational. The first phase of repairs is about 75% complete.

“This pipe is sick,” Farkas said. He added that it could continue to break, requiring more immediate repairs. The community will need to support ongoing efforts.

Farkas mentioned that this is a short-term repair. Calgarians may face more proactive water conservation measures over the next 12 to 24 months if the pipe goes offline again for repairs. “There is no guarantee that next week, next month, or next year that this pipe will not continue to break,” he said.

He noted that Calgarians are not out of the woods yet. A newly released report on the 2024 Bearspaw South Feeder Main break highlighted governance and organizational issues. The report revealed that the council had been aware of concerns about the pipe since 2004.

On Friday, Calgarians used 504 million litres of water, still above the city’s sustainable threshold of 485 million litres. Farkas stated that the requested steps, such as flushing only when necessary and limiting showers to three minutes, are crucial. The city is in a “race against time” as water levels in the Glenmore Reservoir decrease.

“We have a very limited amount of contingency,” Farkas said. He explained that the reservoir must last through the winter. The city will continue to inform Calgarians and work with businesses and industrial users.

Farkas believes that small changes in routine from half a million households will help alleviate the water issue. He emphasized that this is the “riskiest, most critical moment of the repair.” These changes will support frontline and emergency services when they need water.

Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) Chief Sue Henry said the city is alerting people to reduce water use through various channels, including physical and online advertising. Two non-intrusive emergency alerts have been issued through the Alberta Emergency Alert app, which she recommends downloading for updates. However, the Alberta Emergency Alert has not been used because it is not a critical emergency.

Henry noted that the alert remains an option if there is an immediate life-saving threat. General manager Michael Thompson stated that the goal is to return the pipe to service as quickly as possible.

The process includes refilling the feeder main pipe, testing the water for safety, and turning on the pumps at the Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant. This is expected to increase pressure as water flows through the pipe. Refilling will take a few days because 22 million litres of water—about nine Olympic swimming pools—is needed for this seven-kilometre section.

“I want to be clear that each of these steps carries risk,” Thompson said. He added that the schedule could change if there is another break in the pipe. Stage 4 restrictions will remain until the pipe is operational.

Work is underway to protect nearby communities from potential flooding if another rupture occurs. This includes removing two sections of the flood protection barrier in Montgomery Boulevard NW. Barriers along the Bow River pathway near Parkdale Boulevard and 33 and 30 Street NW are being installed to keep water away from the community.

Additionally, city crews are clearing catch basins, opening river outflows, and replacing several manhole covers to drain water faster in case of a break. Thompson mentioned that they are preparing to deploy temporary pumps to remove water from low-lying areas if necessary.

Lastly, westbound traffic along 16 Avenue NW between 49 Street and Sarcee Trail NW remains closed. Speed reductions are in place throughout the construction area. The city expects road repaving to continue, with 16 Avenue reopening by mid to late next week if all goes well.