Calgary’s Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant, feedermain, reconnected to water network

The Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant has been reconnected to Calgary’s water network, the city announced Monday, and crews are taking a measured approach as stabilization of the city’s pipes continues.

Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) Chief Sue Henry says the facility that had been downed since the feedermain broke on June 5 is back up and running during the stabilization phase.

“We are continually rising, continuing to stabilize the water system and will continue to operate that system at a reduced capacity. We are now adjusting how water flows and we’ll continue to monitor the system for breaks and leaks,” she said.

The city’s general manager of infrastructure, Michael Thompson, explained that after the feedermain was reintroduced to the city’s water system on Sunday, crews have been slowly increasing the amount of water flowing from the Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant through the feedermain and into the rest of the network.

“Right now the feedermain is carrying about half of its maximum capacity,” he said.

“This gradual approach is because this is the highest risk step of the process to restore water service.”

City officials have said the main typically carries around 60 per cent of the city’s water.

Thompson says acoustic and pressure monitors are being used to “closely watch the system’s performance,” and adds that there are no indications of further issues so far, along with no leaks or breaks in the system.

If anything should happen, Thompson says the city is prepared with several contingencies, including spare parts in the event the stabilization doesn’t work out as planned.

Those include three additional sections of pipe, exterior repair kits and wrapping to reinforce the pipe, and additional pumps.

“We have equipment on site so that if there is an issue, we can mobilize quickly,” he said. “We’ve got backhoes and pumps on site so that we can really address any issues that might arise quickly.

“We’ve got crews on standby, so from a construction perspective and a planning perspective for any issues that might come up, those are some of the pieces that the City of Calgary has been working on.”

This last step before water flow normalizes also presents the city with the “greatest risk” as leaks and breaks can happen, the mayor said in the morning, which is why crews are working cautiously as it releases valves and turns on pumps.

“If we go too fast, we could overstress the system,” she said.

“That’s why we’re being so incredibly cautious, and we’re taking things very slowly because we are not finished yet, and we are certainly not out of the woods yet.”

As a result, Calgarians are being asked to keep up water-saving efforts for a little longer as the city keeps up the gradual process.

“Our plan is to continue to monitor the system and make decisions as we go forward with respect to flows in the pipe,” Thompson said.

“We are moving in a positive direction, but for now, I would like to once again ask you to continue with your water conservation measures.”

Stabilization stage ‘greatest risk’ as more water is reintroduced into system

The city entered the stabilization phase after AHS gave it the all-clear Sunday after testing the water supply. This phase requires the opening of valves to connect the feedermain with the rest of the city’s water system, which is over 5,000 kilometres in size.

City priorities and investment director Francois Bouchart said Sunday the stabilization process will take around three to five days and restrictions will ease slowly.

He echoed the mayor’s statements Monday that stabilization is a gradual process and is the stage of “greatest risk.”

“We started by turning on two smaller pumps at the Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant, and we’ll be gradually adding additional pumps … After each adjustment to our operations, we wait to let the pressure spike stabilize before we add more water and increase the pressure again,” Bouchart said.

“Throughout this process, we are monitoring. So far the system is responding well.”

Gondek also said the city received several complaints from the Parkland area about cloudy water, but clarified the water has been tested and deemed safe for consumption.

“Together with Alberta Health Services, we are comfortable with the chlorine levels in the water, meaning that the water is safe for consumption. We also noted that any cloudiness that was appearing at the Shaganappi Pump Station earlier yesterday (Sunday) started to clear later in the day,” she said.

“We are confident that this was a temporary condition.”

Bouchart added to the mayor’s comment, saying it is purely an “aesthetic issue only and drinking water continues to be safe to consume.”

“As we increase the flow of the water through the feeder main, it creates turbulence which can cause turbidity and cloudy water,” he said.

“This is not unexpected as a result of reconnecting the Bearspaw South Feedermain to our system and restoring the operations.”

Most Calgarians shouldn’t see any cloudiness in the water, the director said, adding that some may notice a “very minimal” shift in water pressure.

Bouchart also says people might find the water tasting slightly different, but only because of the city’s two different water sources.

“We have the Bow and the Elbow that provide water to the city. And they do taste slightly different even after they’re fully treated and fully safe and meet all standards,” he explained.

“So depending on where you are in the city, you might find that the taste is slightly different, but nothing that people should be concerned about.”

Calgary water use hits record low

Calgarians saved a boatload of water, dropping water use to the lowest it has ever been as the final stage of stabilizing the water system is underway, the mayor said Canada Day Monday.

Mayor Jyoti Gondek, sporting a Canada sweater to commemorate the holiday, says Calgarians used 425 million litres of water on Sunday, 29 per cent less than the previous low of 440 million litres.

“I’m grateful to be part of a city where we understand the value of compassion and the strength of banding together,” she said.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for digging a little bit deeper and getting those water savings up.”

The mayor said Sunday that residents will notice hydrants being used to flush out water during the stabilization process and that it is a “necessary step in returning water back into the feedermain.”

The Parkdale neighbourhood will be the first area to see hydrants being used.

Tuesday morning update delayed to decide next steps in water restrictions

The mayor says Tuesday’s morning update will be at 10:30 a.m. because the city wants to get all the information it can from overnight monitoring of the system to talk next steps in reducing water restrictions.

Gondek says the first step would be removing the indoor water restrictions.

“Tomorrow morning, we’ll have a better idea of how close we are to easing away from indoor reduction measures,” she said.

“We’re not at a place yet to lift outdoor water restrictions or the fire ban. But we should know more tomorrow morning about how much longer we will need to continue saving water indoors.”

Stage 4 outdoor water restrictions remain in place along with the fire ban. Fines are now being handed out for non-compliance and the city says they have now fielded nearly 3,000 calls about water misuse.

Since the pipe break on June 5, Calgarians have been asked to reduce their water use by 25 per cent as repairs are conducted to the main.

Those restrictions were extended after repair crews found and repaired another five spots in the pipe nearing failure.

Crews have been working hard to have the line running before the Calgary Stampede begins July 5. The city said previously the restrictions would be all done by then.

Canada Day fireworks will proceed from Stampede Park despite the fire ban.

This story has been updated with the latest information. Tune into CityNews 660 for the latest on the city’s water restrictions.