Calgary asks residents to reduce water use as major feeder main shuts down for repairs

The City of Calgary is asking residents to limit water use for the next month as crews shut down a major feeder main for additional repairs.

City officials say the Bearspaw South Feeder Main – which carries about 60 per cent of Calgary’s treated drinking water – has been taken offline while crews reinforce sections of the aging pipe. During the shutdown, residents in Calgary and nearby communities are being asked to conserve water by taking shorter showers and reducing toilet flushing.

According to the City of Calgary, the shutdown follows a December incident in which the pipe burst through the concrete of a major roadway. Officials say the latest work is aimed at strengthening the system so it can continue operating while a long-term replacement line is constructed.

This is the third time in two years the city has introduced voluntary water-use restrictions tied to the feeder main’s reliability issues. Municipal officials say the replacement pipeline is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas is scheduled to speak later Monday at a community resource centre set up for residents living near the construction zone. The centre is intended to provide updates and support for neighbourhoods directly affected by the repair work.