Update August 26: Critical water main repair affecting city-wide water usage

Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions in effect today

This week marks the start of urgent repairs on the Bearspaw South Feeder Main. As of 12:01 a.m. this morning we have entered Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions, which means no outdoor water use is allowed. We are also encouraging all Calgarians, as well as our regional partners and visitors to our city to reduce their indoor water use.

This is critical to ensure everyone has access to clean, safe drinking water.

As we have shared, we did additional testing on the Bearspaw South Feeder Main to learn more about the pipe’s condition. We deployed a device called a PipeDiver to inspect the entire length of the feeder main which revealed several new locations that need immediate repair. Other areas needing attention can be addressed in our medium-to-long-term rehabilitation plans.

To conduct the urgent repairs along 33 Avenue N.W. and 16 Avenue N.W. we must take the Bearspaw South Feeder Main out of service. This will begin tomorrow, August 27, and continue through to the end of September.

While construction begins tomorrow, restrictions are in effect today because there is a critical time frame where reducing water use helps us prepare to take the Bearspaw South Feeder Main out of service.

Now that we’re in Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions, we can start important work that couldn’t be done before, like adjusting valves, setting up water bypasses and tuning pump settings. This prep work needs to happen before we take the feeder main out of service and once that's done, we can safely drain the pipe and start the excavation.

Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions

Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions prohibits all outdoor water use of City of Calgary potable water.

This means that the following is not allowed at any time:

Using outdoor sprinklers
Using hoses with spray nozzles
Hand watering, unless it is with non-potable water or rain water
Watering new or established lawns, gardens, flowers, trees, shrubs, sod or grass seed with City water
Washing outdoor cars, windows, exterior building surfaces, sidewalks, driveways or walkways
Filling of outdoor pools, hot tubs or wading pools with City water
Filling of fountains and other decorative features
Water use for construction purposes including grading, compactions and dust control
Pesticide or fertilizer application that requires the use of City water

To support businesses and residents during Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions, The City will be reopening non-potable river water pick up locations with designated hours. Non-potable water will be available for collection from three sites beginning August 26 at the following locations:

Hours of operation will be 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily for commercial use, and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday and noon to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday for residential use.

Permitted essential uses:

Businesses using water to deliver a life-sustaining product or service.
Businesses that must use water to meet health and safety regulations, such as hospitals, restaurants, animal care facilities and childcare facilities.

For more information on Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions and frequently asked questions, visit calgary.ca/savewater

Water saving tips for residents

Here are the top three actions Calgarians can take to make a big difference in reducing their water use:

Limit showers to 3 minutes or less: Shortening a shower from five minutes to three minutes can save 20 litres of water, which is equivalent to approximately one blue gallon jug every day. Collectively as a city of 1.4 million people, that’s 1.4 million jugs a day in water savings.
Run laundry and dishwashers only when full: Washing machines are one of the biggest users of water inside your home. In addition to running full loads, reduce the number of loads you do each week.
Flush toilets only when necessary: Every time you skip a flush you save six litres of water. As a city of 1.4 million people, we could save three Olympic-sized swimming pools or approximately 450,000 5-gallon jugs per day.

Other actions:

Turn off your water softener, this can save approximately 200 litres every time it cycles. That’s savings of roughly 10 of the blue 5-gallon water jugs.
Consider low prep meals, reusing cups throughout the day and even using compostable plates and cutlery.
Turn off the taps when you brush your teeth, wash your face or shave.

Water saving tips for businesses

We are asking all businesses to reduce their water use by 25 per cent without compromising safety or quality. Below are some actions businesses can take to reduce their water use:

Adjust and lower building temperatures. Cooling can place demands on our system. We urge commercial buildings to review and adjust water-based temperature control systems to ensure optimal indoor temperatures. CSA's acceptable range is 23-26 C
Fix leaking taps in kitchens, laundry rooms and toilets, dishwashers etc.
Collect rainwater and greywater for property landscaping and potted plants
Identify areas/processes for increased water efficiency for daily operations
Wipe instead of wash and sweep instead of spray – review cleaning practices to reduce or eliminate water use
Work with staff to identify ways to minimize water use and loss throughout their work duties
Window washing can only be completed by a licensed company

Visit calgary.ca/savewateratwork for more information and resources for businesses to prepare.

Enforcement

Community Standards will be taking an education first approach with both businesses and residences while Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions remain in place. However continued non-compliance can result in fines starting at $3,000.

What happens if we exceed our consumption target of 450 million litres per day?

As Chris Huston, Manager of Drinking Water Distribution explained at our media update on August 20, our safe consumption target of 450 million litres of water per day accounts for the Glenmore Water Treatment Plant operating at full capacity, which is not enough to meet the full demand of the city on its own, and the reduced output from the Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant when the Bearspaw South Feeder Main is out of service for repairs.

If we use more than 450 MLD, and demand exceeds what the system can produce, our underground storage reservoirs will eventually run dry, leading to a drop in water pressure. Maintaining adequate water pressure is essential for keeping our water safe to drink. Low water pressure can allow contaminants to enter the system, potentially leading to a boil water advisory. A city-wide boil advisory is possible if multiple underground reservoirs are depleted.

If a boil water advisory occurs, it could last several months until we have enough water available in the spring to safely flush and clean the system.

This scenario highlights the importance of Calgarians working together to keep water usage within the safe consumption target during the repair period.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation. We're confident that as a community we'll be able to stay within our safe consumption target. You've already done a great job since the original break in June, and all your collective efforts make a big difference in reducing our water use and ensuring a stable water supply throughout the winter.