Calgary water issues ‘new reality’ for next two years, mayor cautions
Posted Jan 5, 2026 4:03 pm.
Last Updated Jan 5, 2026 5:41 pm.
Calgary city officials say repairs to the damaged Bearspaw South feeder main could be completed as early as next week, but are cautioning residents that the aging pipe remains vulnerable and that water restrictions may return with little notice.
Work crews have now removed the broken section of pipe along 16 Avenue NW and are inspecting the remaining line using both robotic technology and manual assessments.
If no additional issues are found, the current repair is expected to wrap up early next week.
Despite the progress, Mayor Jeromy Farkas warned that the feeder main, which has severely ruptured twice in the last two years, cannot be permanently stabilized until it is entirely replaced—a process expected to take up to two years.
“Until we have built the accelerated replacement line, our new reality will be potentially waking up tomorrow to this pipe breaking,” Farkas said. “We cannot fix this permanently, which is why we are accelerating as fast as humanly possible.”
Farkas said Calgarians should be prepared for the possibility of renewed water restrictions throughout the replacement period.
Infrastructure Services General Manager Michael Thompson echoed the concerns, acknowledging that the update is “not what anyone wants to hear.”
“While planning for urgent reinforcement work, we will be looking for every possible opportunity to advance the Bearspaw South Feeder Main Replacement project to get us out of this vulnerable situation,” Thompson said.
He noted that additional shutdowns of the feeder main may be required in the spring and fall to complete reinforcement work. Summer water demand could also trigger further restrictions.
The complete replacement of the pipe is expected to take up to two years.
Ongoing repairs
Infrastructure General Manager Michael Thompson says crews hope to have a new piece of pipe installed and working by next week at the damage site.
“We removed the damaged pipe and are sending it to a facility for further investigation,” says Thompson. “Crews are now inspecting the pipe in the ground using both human and robotic methods.”
Once the inspection is complete, crews will begin installing the repaired section.
“If everything goes well, we are planning on having the repair complete and the pipe operational by early next week,” says Thompson.
City officials say their acoustic monitoring systems heard 18 total wire snaps along the feeder main over 2025, and none were detected in the two months before the break last week.
An independent panel report on the 2024 pipe failure is expected to be presented to city council on Tuesday, with immediate action recommendations.
Unlike in the break in 2024, when crews made several rounds of repairs before the Bearspaw Feeder Main was brought back into service — the city’s priority this time around is to get the pipe up and running as quickly as possible and then reinforce it with concrete encasing.
Thompsons says the reinforcement work will happen by the spring of this year. Future shutdowns of the feeder main may be required to complete the work.
Meanwhile, the boil-water advisory affecting several northwest Calgary communities has now been lifted after testing confirmed the water meets provincial safety standards.
Officials are still urging residents to conserve water, Calgarians used 510 million litres of water on Sunday, well above the safe zone of 485 million litres, putting usage in the ‘red’ zone that is considered unsustainable.
The city remains under Stage 4 water restrictions. Information on restrictions can be found here.
