'We aren’t there yet': Calgary water use continues downward trend as crews fill feeder main

As city crews continue to refill a vital northwest Calgary feeder main after almost two weeks of repair, water usage in the city settled to less critical levels.

Calgary’s potable water demand dashboard showed 493 million litres were used on Saturday, which is slightly more than the threshold of 485 million litres considered sustainable while the beleaguered Bearspaw South feeder main remains out of service since it ruptured catastrophically for the second time on Dec. 30.

Saturday’s water statistics constitute what the city considers “strained” usage, marking the first time since Jan. 3 that water use hasn’t been deemed unsustainable.

Bringing consumption below 485 million litres will help to ensure the system’s ability to provide water for such emergency situations as fire response until the feeder main is back in use, city officials have said on multiple occasions.

“Calgarians have been stepping up, and it’s helping,” said Calgary Emergency Management Agency Chief Sue Henry in a news release issued Sunday afternoon. “We are getting closer to where we need to be, but we aren’t there yet. Every litre saved helps us protect our system and make sure there’s enough water for essential services.”

Officials continued to urge people on Calgary’s drinking water system to curtail toilet flushes, shorten showers and run appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines with full loads only.

The city also reported progress with feeder main repairs, with crews continuing to return water to the pipe by slowly introducing 22 million litres into the conduit.

“The next steps (involve) water quality testing and ensuring the system is fully stable,” the city said in its written statement. “Water restrictions will only be eased once the system has been confirmed safe and fully stabilized.”

At a news conference on Saturday, city officials said flood prevention measures were being taken in case the newly repressurized feeder main were to break once more.

Two sections of a Bow River berm along Montgomery Boulevard N.W. are being removed while temporary barriers have been emplaced on the river pathway on Parkdale Boulevard between 30th and 33rd Street to block potential flooding should the water main that has burst twice in 18 months fail catastrophically again, said Michael Thompson, the city’s general manager of infrastructure services.

Pumps are also in readiness to remove floodwater from any lower-lying areas and crews are clearing catch basins and adjusting manhole covers, he said.

Mayor Jeromy Farkas, also speaking on Saturday, continued to express concern about potential issues as the crumbling feeder main, which normally supplies 60 per cent of the drinking water in Calgary and communities beyond, is returned to service.

“We’re not out of the woods yet. Once we’re in the position to pressurize the pipe, there’s still the risk of another failure,” he said, calling the current repair phase “the most critical moment.”

Workers began repaving the eastbound lanes of 16th Avenue N.W. damaged by the Dec. 30 pipe burst, with the road expected to reopen in the coming week, he said.

— With files from Bill Kaufmann

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