Calgary officials plan to relax water usage restrictions early next week, with continued conservation efforts anticipated for the upcoming spring due to necessary pipe repairs. Michael Thompson, Calgary’s infrastructure services general manager, announced the completion of the Bearspaw south feeder main replacement and ongoing efforts to fill the new pipe with water for testing. Refilling approximately seven kilometers of pipe requires 22 million liters of water, with hopes to ease current conservation measures soon.
However, officials caution that the possibility of discovering additional breaks remains, emphasizing the importance of continued water conservation. Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas stressed the critical nature of the repair process, urging residents to conserve water a little longer. Additional reinforcement of the pipe is planned for spring, coinciding with the need for further water usage restrictions. The decision to delay this work until spring is to leverage snowmelt for reservoir filling.
With a population of about 1.6 million, Calgary residents have been urged to conserve water since the recent burst of the Bearspaw south feeder main, which supplies the majority of the city’s treated water. Past ruptures have led to months of restrictions, advisories, and emergency declarations. Authorities have observed water consumption exceeding daily thresholds, prompting calls for reduced usage. Sue Henry of the Calgary Emergency Management Agency highlighted the importance of water conservation practices, including reducing flushing, shorter showers, and optimizing dishwasher and laundry use.
As the new pipe fills, residents may experience temporary water pressure drops, chlorine odors, or cloudy water, but these are deemed normal and transient. Farkas assured residents of swift actions to address the issue permanently. The officials emphasized the significance of saving water for essential services, such as healthcare and firefighting.