Calgary water system back under strain as feeder main repairs continue

Calgary’s water demand climbed back to strained levels on Friday, the city says, as residents are still urged to cut back on water use as crews work to repair a major feeder main break.

The City of Calgary continues to ask residents to conserve water following the rupture of the Bearspaw South feeder main Tuesday night — the second time the critical pipe has burst in a span of 18 months.

Mayor Jeromy Farkas said on social media Saturday that Calgary’s water system has moved into the yellow zone, meaning the system is considered “strained.”

“Calgary, our water system is in the YELLOW ZONE. We need your help urgently to conserve water!” he wrote on X.

The city said water use reached 493 million litres on Jan. 2, exceeding its daily conservation target and putting added pressure on supply.

Crews have cleared water from the break site and are preparing to remove the damaged section of pipe so repairs can begin, the city said in a Saturday morning Facebook post.

On Friday, the city had reported water demand had dropped to sustainable levels after remaining in the unsustainable red zone since Tuesday night. The city’s daily target is to keep collective water use below 485 million litres.

Stage 4 outdoor water restrictions remain in place in Calgary, as well as Airdrie, Chestermere, Strathmore and the Tsuut’ina Nation.

Residents are asked to conserve water by flushing toilets only when necessary, running dishwashers and laundry machines only when full and limiting showers to three minutes.

A boil-water advisory remains in effect for parts of Parkdale, Montgomery, Point McKay and West Hillhurst.

City officials are set to hold a news conference at 1 p.m. Saturday to provide an update on repair progress.

The live update can be viewed online at calgary.ca/live.

More to come…