Hundreds sign petition calling on city to support Bowness residents in wake of water main break

A resident of the northwest Calgary community most impacted by the major water main break last week has started a petition calling on the city to provide financial aid to residents in the neighbourhood.

Over 400 people have signed the online petition that was started on Monday — it asks the City of Calgary for financial assistance for Bowness residents due to the impacts of the pipe break more than a week ago.

Joshua Cameron, the man who started the petition, made the goal 500 signatures and says the neighbourhood was inconvenienced with higher energy bills due to a boil water advisory. He also claims that not having clean water has negatively impacted the physical and mental wellness of community members.

“I realize there is a lot of low income people, and people with hardships in the Bowness area,” he says. “The added burden of not having water for 24 hours and then the boiling for almost a week, that does have a financial impact.”

“Even more so, the time that it takes out of people’s days when they are struggling to make means with the inflation we’ve had.”

A boil water advisory was introduced for Bowness by Alberta Health Services (AHS) shortly after the discovery of the break eight days ago. It was lifted on Monday.

Cameron adds the entire ordeal has been frustrating for him and he only has two cats. He says he can’t imagine what a family of four or five people are going through.

He says he’s open to any comments or feedback, whether people agree or disagree, and was surprised to see how many people have already signed the petition.

“I know we don’t know exactly what caused the water main break at this time, but at first the communication and the notices were really poor,” says Cameron. “I think it would be a good token of accountability for the city to be supporting the residents of Bowness.”

Over the weekend, Gondek apologized for the city’s communication and vague messaging around the water crisis. The mayor pledged to step up communication with two daily news conferences, infographics, and clear timelines.

The city still remains under Stage 4 water restrictions that requires all residents and businesses across the city to refrain from outdoor water use. The list of restrictions can be found here.

Crews resumed work to repair the major feeder main break along 16 Avenue NW near Home Road on Thursday. Work was paused Wednesday night after two workers were injured in an accident at the site.

The break was discovered last Wednesday night when flooding was reported in the area.