Airdrie residents weigh in on water restrictions due to Calgary water main break

Airdrie is one of several communities that receives water from Calgary, and with a population nearing 90,000 people, it’s the largest one outside of Stampede City.

Airdrie has also implemented stage 4 water restrictions due to Calgary’s latest major watermain break and some residents aren’t too pleased with the situation.

“I can’t believe how annoyed I was when I heard again that this was coming up,” one resident told CityNews. “Money seems to be getting wasted left right and centre on everything, except on important stuff like the infrastructure.”

She thinks people are experiencing water conservation fatigue, and that they are less likely to follow restrictions as strictly as they did in 2024.

“I can’t see people trying to jump in and out of the shower in three minutes like we did last time,” she added.

It’s especially difficult for parents of young children.

“You cannot regulate them — like ‘OK take a cup of water to brush your teeth.. you can’t,” one man said. “Kids are kids, so it’s sometimes tough.”

The vast majority of people CityNews spoke with in Airdrie weren’t aware of the water restrictions, and some didn’t know there was another major water main break other than the summer of 2024. 

Others were aware of the restrictions, but not the gravity of the situation.

“My Airdrie online utility bill when I went to go pay it, it said try and reduce water usage – so three minute showers, no watering outside – which I don’t know why you would be — but that was all I’ve seen,” one Airdrie resident said.

Despite the general sentiment of annoyance from some of Airdrie residents, the city’s Mayor Heather Spearman says they’ve done a good job lowering consumption.

“Every single day we’ve seen a reduction in usage, anywhere from six to 10 per cent in reduction. So Airdrie is doing an excellent job of typing to do their best to accommodate. We’re just trying to be a good neighbour and help support Calgary,” she said.

Spearman adds that even though this is a repeated issue coming from Calgary receiving water from other communities like Crossfield or Drumheller aren’t viable options either due to infrastructure size, or distance.