The City of Calgary has lifted all water restrictions with the Bearspaw feeder main now back in service, bringing an end, at least for now, to the latest chapter in the city’s ongoing water troubles.
Officials announced Friday afternoon that the final pump at the Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant had been activated and that the system is once again stable.
“We’ve been monitoring the pipe, and as of this afternoon the system remains stable,” said Calgary Emergency Management Agency Chief Sue Henry. “That means we’re now able to lift all water restrictions, effective immediately.”
The city had been under restrictions since the key water main ruptured just before New Year’s Eve, forcing emergency repairs and voluntary water‑use limits.
With the system now functioning, the Emergency Operations Centre will close, and the Municipal Emergency Plan is expected to wrap up by the end of the day.
But city officials warn the relief may be temporary. The Bearspaw feeder main has suffered two major fractures in the past two years, and the risk of another break remains. Mayor Jeromy Farkas emphasized that point, calling the repaired line “terminally ill.”
“This repair has simply bought Calgary time, but we’re now in a race against the clock,” Farkas said. “This waterline… is a ticking time bomb, and it’s not a matter of if, but when it fails again.”
Residents in Bowness, Montgomery, and Parkdale, areas hit hardest by the disruptions, say they want a permanent fix, not another temporary patch. Parkdale resident Paula Yerex says repeated failures have shaken her confidence in the system.
“It’s a concern, because it’s going to happen again,” Yerex said. “These pipes obviously aren’t the best if it’s happened several times already in the last couple of years.”
Yerex believes Calgary’s rapid growth is putting pressure on aging infrastructure.
“We’re growing so fast, so things are coming up quickly, and I don’t know that they’re necessarily being put together properly,” she said.
Others in the community are more optimistic. Parkdale resident Ingrid Brunner says the city’s response gives her hope that long‑term solutions are on the way.
“It makes me hopeful that the city will take care of this issue, and I feel confident that it will be taken care of,” she said.
Local businesses, however, are calling for more transparency. Montgomery restaurant owner Sahoud Abbasi says the city owes affected businesses clear communication and accountability.
“I want the proper report from the city to send to all the local businesses here, and promise us this will never happen again,” Abbasi said. “And apologize to the people that have been affected, their livelihood has been affected by these people.”
The city says the feeder main will be shut down again this spring for additional maintenance, which will require further water restrictions.
Infrastructure general manager Michael Thompson says a contract for a full replacement pipe has now been awarded, and work will move ahead as quickly as possible.