Calgary city council is gearing up to review a comprehensive report concerning the catastrophic feeder main break in 2024, following a recent incident of another break on the same pipeline in the northwest part of the city. Mayor Jeromy Farkas announced that a special council meeting is slated for Wednesday to publicly address the report’s findings on the causes and circumstances surrounding the 2024 break.
Last December, a detailed 600-page report was presented to the council, outlining the factors contributing to the deterioration and failure of the pipe. However, there were criticisms about the report lacking clear solutions to prevent similar issues in the future. Farkas expressed his interest in the recommendations of the latest report for prompt actions to replace the damaged pipe.
The recent water main break in Calgary’s Bowness area resulted in significant flooding, ongoing water usage restrictions, and a boil-water advisory for several communities in the northwest, which was lifted recently. Despite the lifting of restrictions, Calgary’s water consumption remained high on Monday, exceeding the daily water use goal by 29 million liters.
Farkas emphasized the importance of enhancing communication to educate residents about the necessity of water conservation and the value of water as a crucial resource. He stressed the need for proactive measures to address the aging infrastructure challenges, such as reducing water flow, implementing scheduled shutdowns, and promoting preventive maintenance.
As Calgary’s population approaches two million, the mayor highlighted the city’s need to retain more water within its system to reduce reliance on rivers. Data revealed that Calgary experienced a significant loss of treated water in 2024 due to leaks, prompting the launch of an accelerated water loss program.
Efforts are underway to repair the broken feeder main, with the installation of a new section scheduled after inspection. The city is also preparing to restore a different feeder main at Memorial Drive and 52nd Street N.E. to enhance water distribution in Calgary. Additionally, the Bearspaw South Feeder Main replacement project is set to commence this spring.
In Bowness, a temporary water service interruption is planned for two days starting Wednesday morning to inspect the feeder main, affecting a limited number of residences and a business along specific avenues. Affected individuals will be directly notified about the interruption by the city.