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11h ago

Calgary Elevates Infrastructure Risk to 'Extensive' After Bearspaw Main Rupture

City officials will brief councillors over the next four months to prioritize costs after the risk rating jumped to the top tier.

City of Calgary workers stand near a section of the damaged Bearspaw South feeder main pipe on January 5, 2026. Events like the feeder main break underscore the city's need to identify aging infrastructure says a recent report.
The City of Calgary has elevated the risks associated with its infrastructure following the second catastrophic failure of a main city water line in less than two years.
Crews work on repairing the water main break along 16 Ave. N.W., in Calgary, in this handout photo released by the City of Calgary on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2025.

Overview

  • A new municipal report classifies Calgary’s capital infrastructure risk as “extensive,” the highest level, with 11% of assets in poor to very poor condition.
  • The reassessment followed the Dec. 30 break of the Bearspaw feeder main, which supplies about 60% of the city’s drinking water and led to roughly two weeks of restrictions.
  • Officials describe the Bearspaw main as at end of life with no redundancy and call for urgent replacement along with a duplicate steel pipe to provide backup.
  • The city is ramping up inspections, condition assessments and performance analytics for critical assets, paired with preventative maintenance at prioritized locations.
  • A 10-year capital investment plan and project pipeline are in development, with an audit committee review Thursday, an executive committee session on Feb. 3, and council briefings over the next four months to outline costs.