Watermain break leaves dozens of Beltline businesses, residents without service

Frustration is mounting in the Beltline after a contractor accidentally struck a water pipe Wednesday afternoon, cutting service to 22 businesses and at least two apartment buildings along 17 Avenue and 14 Street SW.

Crews have been working through the day Thursday to repair the break, but the City of Calgary has not provided a timeline for when water service will be restored.

Residents at the Skyline on 17th, located at 1540 17 Avenue SW, say they were notified late Wednesday that the building’s water line had been hit.

“The management company emailed us saying the water line was hit and there was no water for the whole building,” resident Nicholas Pfifer said. “I got the email yesterday, and then when I left for work today there was still no water.”

The Skyline has roughly a dozen units on each of its three floors. Residents at the nearby Bella Vista apartment building on 14 Street SW confirm they are also without water nearly 24 hours after the break.

Businesses along the busy 17 Avenue corridor are facing the same issue, with 22 commercial properties currently without service.

Traffic in the area has reopened in both directions, but drivers are being warned to expect delays as repair crews continue their work.

The City says water wagons will be delivered sometime Thursday to support affected residents and businesses. However, officials have not said when repairs will be completed or when water service will return to normal.

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