Overview
- A ruptured Bearspaw feeder main earlier released large volumes of water that closed major roads and disrupted Calgary and nearby communities, prompting emergency restrictions and repair planning.
- Mayor Jeromy Farkas warned that a brief shutdown of the Bearspaw plants could be required to complete electrical work on a new pumping station and that this may mean temporary limits on outdoor water use in September.
- The Bearspaw feeder main supplies roughly 60 percent of treated water for Calgary, nearby municipalities and the Tsuut'ina Nation, so the shutdown is being managed to protect overall supply while crews work.
- City officials say major replacement work on the feeder main will begin in October and they are aiming to finish the replacement within a year as part of the North Calgary Water Service project.
- The broader project includes more than 20 kilometres of new pipe and 10 supporting facilities to add redundancy, and whether restrictions are imposed will depend on near-term weather and how much water residents use.