An independent panel unveiled its findings on the 2024 rupture of the Bearspaw south feeder main on Wednesday, following another significant break of the same main last week. While the recent incident was not included in their assessment, the panel’s report highlighted a series of missed opportunities to inspect the feeder main despite prior identifications of its vulnerability.
Key insights from the report revealed that the Bearspaw south feeder main had been flagged as at risk following the rupture of the McKnight feeder main in northeast Calgary back in 2004, which shared the same material composition of prestressed concrete cylinder pipe (PCCP). The aging and design of the Bearspaw pipe, installed in the mid-1970s, were also recognized as potential risk factors.
However, the panel discovered that these vulnerabilities were not addressed, with three inspection recommendations over a span of five years (in 2017, 2020, and 2022) either postponed or redirected due to other city priorities. The report highlighted that infrastructure deficiencies are prevalent in numerous Canadian cities, with more than one-quarter of water mains nationwide requiring repairs. Calgary faces heightened risks due to rapid population growth and the elevated maintenance costs associated with supporting a sprawling city.
Panel chair Siegfried Kiefer emphasized that Calgary’s “risk tolerance has been too high for critical infrastructure,” likening the situation to a plane crash caused by a faulty part that is repeatedly neglected for replacement. The urgency to replace the deteriorating Bearspaw feeder main was underscored, with the panel warning of a potential future break. Plans are underway to replace the concrete feeder main with a new steel pipe by 2028, but efforts are being expedited following the recent break.
Accelerating the replacement project was deemed crucial by experts, acknowledging the disruptions and costs involved. City officials expressed readiness to expedite the replacement process to enhance system reliability. While the panel did not conduct a detailed cost analysis, the urgency of the situation was emphasized over cost considerations.
One of the key recommendations from the report was the establishment of a new water utility department to enhance accountability for system failures. The long-term vision includes transitioning this department into a standalone city-owned corporation, similar to Edmonton’s EPCOR model. The proposal also includes the formation of an independent advisory board, eventually evolving into a board of directors for the municipally controlled corporation.
The report also shed light on the city’s overreliance on acoustic monitoring as a primary safeguard against pipeline failures. Despite implementing acoustic fiber optic monitoring post-2024 break, the recent incident exposed the limitations of this method. The need for a more comprehensive approach, including electromagnetic inspections and robotic camera assessments, was highlighted to mitigate future risks effectively.