Update Sept. 20: Critical water main repair affecting city-wide water usage
Last night, we successfully completed filling the feeder main with water.
Although we have been conducting water quality tests throughout the filling process, the final tests have now been sent to the lab for analysis. This will take about 24 hours, and we expect to have the results ready by tomorrow.
Ensuring that the water is clean and safe to drink is our top priority. These tests will tell us whether the water quality meets or exceeds all quality and safety standards.
Once we've received the test results and confirmed the water is safe, we will move to stabilizing the system, including opening valves to reconnect the feeder main to the larger water distribution network. If everything goes smoothly, stabilization will begin tomorrow morning.
During stabilization, we are taking steps to reduce turbidity (cloudiness) in the water. However, as we reconnect the feeder main to the water distribution network, some Calgarians may experience cloudy water or water that has a chlorine smell coming from their taps. Both effects are normal and temporary, and we want to reassure you that the water remains safe to drink. If the chlorine smell is bothersome, a simple fix is to pour the water into a pitcher and let it sit for a while before drinking. This will help clear the chlorine smell.
After all these steps are complete, we can lift water restrictions. Based on our progress so far, we expect this will happen sometime Sunday.
We will also be closing our non-potable water pick up locations for commercial and residential use once water restrictions are lifted.
Water use
Yesterday’s water use was 487 million litres, which includes approximately 7 million litres we used to fill the feeder main. This means our water usage is still within a sustainable range and we sincerely appreciate your efforts to save water while we complete this important work.
Construction update
We continue to progress with the final stages of our construction.
Sites 1 and 5 along 33 Avenue N.W. are scheduled for paving on Saturday, however this work is weather dependent.
33 Avenue N.W. west of 83 Street N.W. will reopen later next week, but this, too, is weather dependent.
On 16 Avenue N.W., there will be intermittent lane closures as needed to complete concrete curb work and to help bring the feeder main back into service.
We are so close to the end, and we are asking everyone to keep up their water saving efforts in these final days until the feeder main is back in service. Your efforts make a big difference as we work to ensure a reliable water system for everyone. For the latest updates, water saving tips and to sign up to receive email updates about construction, visit calgary.ca/savewater.