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14h ago

Calgary Panel Cites Systemic Failures, Calls for 12–14‑Month Replacement of Failing Feeder Main

City leaders pledge to spare no expense to stabilize a strained water supply.

Workers inspect a broken water main in downtown Montreal on August 19, 2024, that was the source of flooding the previous Friday.
The independent panel's report found the City of Calgary's water utility spent its entire capital budget only twice in the last 20 years.
A sinkhole formed as a result of a broken water main under the road’s surface caused traffic disruptions along the boundary between Toronto and Markham, Ont., on March 20, 2000.
City crews continue repair work on the Bearspaw South feeder main along 16th Avenue near Sarcee Trail N.W. on Thursday, January 8, 2026.

Overview

  • Mayor Jeromy Farkas warns the water supply is at a critical level and urges residents to cut daily use by 25 to 30 litres to maintain firefighting capacity.
  • Crews have installed a new pipe segment, completed welding, and begun backfilling as emergency repairs continue on the Bearspaw South feeder main.
  • An independent panel confirms years of deferred inspections in 2017, 2020 and 2022 despite longstanding concerns about the prestressed concrete pipe.
  • The panel deems the line in disrepair with further breaks likely and urges accelerating a steel replacement to be operational within 12 to 14 months, earlier than the current 2028 plan.
  • The report identifies overreliance on acoustic fibre‑optic monitoring that failed to flag the Dec. 30 rupture and recommends a dedicated water utility with independent oversight to strengthen accountability.