Calgary officials call for immediate water conservation after second major feeder main break

City officials in Calgary are asking residents to sharply reduce their daily water use after a key water feeder main ruptured late last month, placing pressure on the city’s drinking water system.

Mayor Jeromy Farkas said the Bearspaw South Feeder Main remains in a critical state following the Dec. 30 break, leaving Calgary using more water than it can currently produce and store. The situation has prompted renewed calls for voluntary conservation across the city of roughly 1.6 million people.

According to Chris Huston, the city’s manager of drinking water distribution, Calgary needs to keep daily water consumption below 485 million litres for several weeks to stabilize the system. Officials say everyday actions such as reducing shower times and limiting appliance use can make a meaningful difference.

Huston noted that cutting a shower from 10 minutes to three minutes can save between 10 and 30 litres of water per person each day. Residents are also being urged to only run dishwashers and washing machines with full loads.

However, Nicole Newton, Calgary’s director of climate and environment, said water demand has not yet shown a measurable decline since the rupture, raising concerns about sustainability if usage levels remain unchanged.

The break marks the second failure of the same feeder main in less than two years. Michael Thompson, general manager of infrastructure services, said the cause of the latest rupture remains under investigation, following a similar break in the summer of 2024 that led to months of water restrictions and advisories.