Calgary’s city council is gearing up to review a report concerning the 2024 “catastrophic” feeder main break, following a recent incident on the same pipeline in the northwest part of the city. Mayor Jeromy Farkas announced that a special council meeting is planned for Wednesday to discuss the report publicly, focusing on the causes of the 2024 break.
Last December, a comprehensive 600-page report was presented to the council outlining the reasons behind the pipe’s deterioration and failure. However, the report faced criticism for not offering clear solutions to prevent similar issues in the future. Farkas emphasized the importance of swiftly implementing recommendations from the new report to secure a replacement pipe.
Following a water main break in Calgary’s Bowness neighborhood on December 30, which resulted in significant flooding and a boil-water advisory for several communities, restrictions were lifted on Sunday. Despite this, the city recorded water usage exceeding sustainable levels on Monday, with 514 million liters consumed, surpassing the daily target by 29 million liters.
Farkas stressed the need for enhanced communication on water conservation practices and the value of water as a vital resource. He highlighted the necessity of proactive measures to manage the aging infrastructure, such as reducing water flow, scheduled shutdowns, and maintenance work. Farkas urged continued vigilance to prevent further incidents and emphasized the importance of water conservation efforts.
As Calgary’s population approaches two million, the city aims to retain more water within its system to reduce reliance on rivers. Efforts to address water loss due to leaky pipes led to the implementation of an accelerated water loss program in 2024. The city is reevaluating its water system to ensure long-term sustainability amid population growth and infrastructure challenges.
The city is currently focusing on inspecting and repairing the broken feeder main, with the installation of a new section underway. Additionally, preparations are being made to reactivate a different feeder main at Memorial Drive and 52nd Street N.E. to enhance water delivery in the city. The Bearspaw South Feeder Main replacement project is scheduled to commence this spring.
In Bowness, the city has planned a temporary water service interruption to inspect the feeder main, affecting 30 homes and one business. Affected residents will be directly notified about the interruption, scheduled to last for two days starting Wednesday morning.