Water restrictions in Calgary are officially over, city officials announced Thursday, after crews successfully completed repairs to the beleaguered Bearspaw South Feedermain.
Officials say turning the pumps on and introducing pressure to the pipe went well, and quality testing has shown the water is safe to consume.
Since the feeder main was shut down on March 9, crews have reinforced nine of the highest risk segments on the pipe, replaced valves that were not fully operational, completed concrete work, backfilling and paving to restore work area, and refilled, tested, and returned the pipe to service.
Traffic detours along 16 Avenue NW and Sarcee Trail NW will be removed by the weekend, city officials say.
Restrictions were introduced last month for the third time in two years. This was to allow for repairs to the feeder main, which most recently broke at the end of December. Repair work required taking the pipe out of service, switching primary water capacity to the Glenmore water treatment plant.
Calgarians were asked to shorten showers, limit flushes, and only run washing machines and dishwashers when they had a full load.
Now that restrictions have ended, city recreation facilities will be returning to normal operations. Hot tubs and kiddie pools are being refilled and will reopen as soon as they’re ready and safe to use, the city said Thursday.
Not out of the woods yet
Despite the conclusion of this work, Calgary’s water woes are far from over; the Bearspaw feeder main is still in poor condition and is at risk of another issue or break until the new pipe is up-and-running in December of this year.
“Ever since the pipe first broke on Dec. 30, we’ve known that we are living in a new reality,” Farkas said. “One where this feedermain is critically compromised, and yes — one where it could fail again at any time, that remains true today.
“These reinforcements do not mean that we are out of the woods. They do not mean that the pipe is fixed permanently, and we cannot afford to become complacent.”
Calgarians will get a break from water restrictions until the fall if all goes to plan. At that time, the feeder main will be shut down again to connect the new pipe.
Officials warn that restrictions could return before that if another issue occurs.
The mayor says successfully completing the construction of the new pipe on schedule would be the fastest delivery of an infrastructure project in Calgary’s history. Projects at that scale typically have a four-year timeline. Calgary is working to have it finished in one year.