‘We will run out in the days to come’: Calgarians urged to conserve water as crews continue repair work

As the city of Calgary pleads with residents to conserve water due to the risk of the supply running dry, Calgarians have been stepping up to help. Silvia Naranjo reports.

By Lauryn Heintz and Michael Ranger

Posted Jun 7, 2024 7:59 am.

Last Updated Jun 7, 2024 7:22 pm.

As Calgary battles a massive water main break in Bowness for a third day, city officials are reiterating their message for residents to limit water usage and say the water supply is at risk of running dry.

The city says there was a significant reduction in water use on Thursday the late afternoon, but usage jumped significantly around the time people got home from work, adding the city is currently using more water than it can produce.

“We’re not going to run out tomorrow, but we will run out in the days to come,” said director of water services Nancy Mackay, responding during a Friday afternoon update about what could happen if Calgarians don’t curb their usage and demand keeps exceeding supply.

Officials are asking Calgarians to use 25 per cent less water than they did Thursday, which they say could mean shaving a few minutes off your shower, skipping a few flushes, and holding off on a load of laundry.

Mackay said the city is now relying on one plant to produce water. The plant can produce 520 million litres of water a day, she said, but Friday’s demand was about 610 million litres.

Normally, the city stores up to two days’ worth of water in its reservoir system. She said everyone needs to do their part to ensure the demand does not exceed the supply.

“Just as we came together in the floods of 2013, to save all the water we can, we need everyone to do their part,” she said during an update to the public Friday morning.

Airdrie mayor Peter Brown spoke during the Friday afternoon update and urged residents in that city, along with Chestermere and Strathmore, to similarly limit their water usage. All three communities get their water from Calgary.

Repairs still expected to take days

The city says its crews continue to work around the clock to repair the issue. The hope was that by later Friday, crews would be able to see the feeder main and figure out the source of the break.

During the afternoon update officials said crews were finally getting a look at the broken pipe.

“We can now pump out that remaining water, expose the rest of the pipe and finalize our repair plans,” Mackay said. “It’s still going to take days.”

The break was initially confirmed by the city after flooding was reported along 16 Avenue NW near Home Road around 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

Major Jyoti Gondek says the line that broke is the Bearspaw south water feedermain — a two metre diameter pipe that takes water directly from a treatment facility to the reservoir. It’s a key artery that delivers water for the city and surrounding areas. Officials say the pipe was installed in 1975.

“This is the piece of infrastructure that flows water to all of the reservoirs that are located in the various communities in Calgary,” said Gondek on Friday. “As we are drawing down on those tanks, that’s where we are going to get to a point where we run out of water if we don’t start practicing conservation.”

The mayor says there are 23 water reservoirs serving Calgary.

Restrictions for residences and businesses

The city is pleading with residents and business owners in the northwest community to follow restrictions.

Businesses are asked to stop water use for all non-essential services including businesses that use water for things like construction, outside window cleaning, pesticide applications, and washing services.

Businesses that use water to deliver a product or service that is life-sustaining for people, animals, and plants, are exempt from the restrictions, the city says.

Other exemptions include businesses that need water to meet health code standards, like hospitals and restaurants.

To manage the limited amount of water available, the city has implemented mandatory outdoor water restrictions, asking Calgarians to limit their non-essential water use by taking the following actions:

Delay using dishwashers and washing machines
Limiting shower times and keeping baths shallow
Turning off humidifiers and ice machines
Turning off water taps when not in use
Reducing water use in any other way that you safely can.

Calgarians are encouraged to use water from rain barrels for outdoor watering.

City officials say some are blatantly ignoring the rules

Mackay says police responded to 56 calls for misuse of water, on Thursday, and the city says extra staff will be working over the weekend to make sure people are complying with the restrictions.

Community standards is taking an education-first approach with both businesses and residences as the city remain under Stage 4 water restrictions, according to the city.

Fines for non-compliance of the ban start at $3,000.

Mackay also said there were eight people who ignored the fire ban.

The Calgary Fire Department’s (CFD) ban prohibits the use of fire pits, recreational campfires, outdoor fireplaces and other open flame devices, such as barbecues and stoves, that burn charcoal briquettes or wood.

The fire ban is in effect until further notice, until water supply is no longer deemed a risk to public health and safety.

Fines for violating a fire ban range from $500 to $5,000.

Boil water advisory remains in effect for Bowness

Residents and businesses in Bowness still need to bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute before any consumption, including drinking, brushing teeth, cleaning raw foods, making baby formula or juices, or making ice.

Alberta Health Services (AHS) and the City of Calgary continue to monitor the situation through sampling and testing of the drinking water to make sure it is safe for consumption.

CEMA Chief Sue Henry says there have been numerous calls from residents about water quality across the city, but says people in areas outside of the boil water advisory are still getting good water.

“Our water quality continues to meet or exceed guidelines,” she says. “If you are concerned about your water, please call 311.”

The city says the boil water advisory has been issued as a precaution.

WATCH: Calgary water main break headache continues

Water wagons available

The city has made nine water wagons available for Bowness residents, located in the following place:

4527 77 St. N.W. (Bowness Community Association)
5927 Bowness Rd. N.W. (Bow Crest Nursing Home)
7311 34 Ave. N.W. (Our Lady of Assumption School)
4631 85 St. N.W. (On 85 ST beside Belvedere Parkway School)
7915 43 Ave. N.W. (Bow Centre Seniors Home)
2003 46 St. N.W. (James Shouldice Manor – access between school & manor on 47 ST
82 Juniper Dr. N.W.
4628 Montgomery Blvd. N.W. (Bow View Manor Nursing Home)
6540 Bowness Rd. N.W. (on 65 St. N.W. beside Bowness Car Wash)

Changes have also been made to the way water is being distributed across the city, according to Mackey.

“We are continuing to shift drinking water from our Glenmore Water Treatment Plant around the city, we are working that plant very hard to get water to everyone,” she explained.

City services impacted

Various city facilities and services are disrupted as a result of the main break and related restrictions.

City officials say all pools and area are closed, as are art centres.

Athletic parks are open, but no showers are available at city athletic parks. The same goes for the Calgary Soccer Centre, which is open but without showers.

Street sweeping scheduled for the communities of Willow Park, Sandstone Valley, Taradale, Saddleridge, Royal Oak, Highland Park, Greenview, Cranston, Penbrooke Meadows, Southwood, Aspen Woods, and Springbank Hill won’t happen as a result of restrictions. Streets that haven’t been completed will have their dates rescheduled.

Bulk water stations are temporarily closed until restrictions are lifted at the following locations: