Update July 21: Critical water main break affecting city-wide water usage
UPDATE: The repair of the water main break in the 5100 block of Bowness Road N.W. from Friday evening is complete. Water has been restored to affected residents. Crews remain onsite and we’ll have more information on the opening of the road and the repaving of this site tomorrow.
On Friday evening, a separate water main break occurred in the 5100 block of Bowness Road N.W. We thank our crews for working through the heat to ensure that the commercial and residential customers impacted have access to safe and reliable drinking water.
A water wagon was deployed to serve residents affected by the temporary water service disruption and a section of Bowness Road remains closed in both directions for repairs until it is safe to reopen. Motorists are advised to follow detour signs and exercise caution in the area.
The recent break is not directly related to the Bearspaw South Feeder Main and is on a smaller 10-inch cast iron pipe nearby. Water main breaks of this size are not unusual.
After any water main repair, crews must flush the pipes to ensure the water's safety. Although we take measures to reduce water usage during this process, it remains a necessary step.
For updates on water outages, please visit calgary.ca/wateroutages or call 311.
Where we are at
Yesterday, an additional wire snap was detected, bringing the total to five since we brought the pipe back into service. While this wire snap does not mean another break is imminent, continued monitoring of the pipe is crucial as we gradually ease water restrictions and consider increasing the water flow through the pipe.
Currently, the feeder main is operating at 70% capacity, which ensures sufficient water supply to meet the increased demand in Calgary and the surrounding region.
Water use
Yesterday, Calgary's water use was 641 million litres, which aligns with our forecasts under Stage 2 Outdoor Water Restrictions and the current heatwave.
We are currently in Stage 2 Outdoor Water Restrictions, which allows for use of a sprinkler for up to one hour a week, on a set schedule among other things.
- House numbers ending with an even number can use a sprinkler Wednesday or Saturday
- House numbers ending with an odd number can use a sprinkler Thursday or Sunday
- Sprinkler use is recommended in the morning or later in the evening to avoid evaporation during the hottest part of the day.
The following is allowed at any time:
- Watering with a hose that has a trigger spray nozzle or drip irrigation
- Hand watering using a watering can or other container
- Watering new grass with a sprinkler or irrigation system
- Water use for pesticide or fertilizer application
The following is not allowed at any time:
- Outdoor washing of cars, windows, exterior building surfaces, sidewalks, driveways or walkways. Note: manual window washing by certified companies is allowed, other window washing is not.
- Filling fountains or other decorative features, except for bird baths
These restrictions continue to apply to all customers who use City water. This includes all Calgary residences, businesses and City operations.
Next steps
We continue to monitor the feeder main, overall system performance and water supply and demand. So far, the feeder main is performing well and this has given us confidence that the system is ready to manage higher water demand if things remain stable.
With this information, we will be making a decision tomorrow morning on whether we are ready to move to Stage 1 Outdoor Water Restrictions. This change would allow for up to two hours of sprinkler use per week on a set schedule. Detailed information on each stage of restrictions is available at calgary.ca/restrictions.