Bearspaw South Feeder Main shut down in final stages and on track

Construction update

Crews continue to make progress on the final stages of the Bearspaw South Feeder Main shut down.

Water quality testing has confirmed that water in the refilled feeder main meets and exceeds regulatory standards and is safe to drink.

This morning, crews opened valves along the pipe. Early this afternoon, we turned on pumps at the Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant to start the flow of water through the feeder main. Residents across the system may experience cloudiness and notice a strong chlorine smell in their water. This is temporary and will take around 24 hours to clear. The water is safe to drink.

This stage carries the largest amount of risk as we reintroduce pressure to the pipe. We will be closely monitoring the pipe and water system over the next 48 hours to ensure they are stable. If everything goes as planned, we could lift water restrictions as early as Thursday, April 2. If any issues come up, we will stop and evaluate the situation.

Water use

Calgarians and our surrounding neighbours continue to stay in the green zone, with yesterday’s water use at 494 million litres.

Looking ahead

We are not planning additional water restrictions until fall, when we will need to shut down the pipe again to connect the new pipe to our water system. However, we know that the risk of another issue or break will be there until the new pipe is operational in December. We are asking people to stay prepared and follow local news, The City’s social media channels and calgary.ca.

We have a planned pipe inspection from April 9 to 11, where we will place a mechanical device called a pipe diver in part of the feeder main to assess its condition. Our crews will have to briefly stop water flow to remove the pipe diver, and then conduct water quality testing before restarting the pumps. Because of the short duration of this work, we do not expect water restrictions to be needed. However, this could change if unexpected issues arise.

We encourage Calgarians to plan ahead for the spring and summer seasons by considering a rain barrel for your garden and yard. The City’s rain barrel rebate program opens Wednesday, April 1, and offers a $50 rebate for eligible purchases. Details are available at calgary.ca/rainbarrel.

Stay informed

We are nearing the end, but we are not there yet. Your continued water saving actions are critical in helping our crews complete these remaining stages of work as safely and efficiently as possible.

For the latest updates, practical tips and resources for residents and businesses, visit calgary.ca/savewater.