16 Ave NW Critical Watermain Break

1. What happened?

On the evening of Wednesday, June 5, The City discovered a large water main break in the Bowness and Montgomery area. It immediately impacted water flow to Bowness and affected water pressure in several surrounding communities. Due to the size of the feedermain it has impacted the overall water distribution throughout the city.

2. What was the cause?

On June 8, the pipe was excavated and exposed. We continue to actively look into the cause of the break, confirm the full extent of impacts and will provide more information as it becomes available.

3. When was the pipe last inspected? how is a water main inspected?

The most recent maintenance work took place in the spring of 2024, and included the replacement of air valves and the installation of an acoustic monitoring device. Routine field checks on valve chambers are also performed regularly.

Several test shutdowns were undertaken in the winter of 2023 and spring 2024 in preparation for a full condition assessment planned for this December. 98% of our water distribution system is rated as being in “good” or “very good” physical condition. This rating is due to The City’s ongoing condition assessment and maintenance programs, which helps to identify and address potential problems.

The City has 5,000 kilometres of underground pipe throughout the city. We assess the physical condition by ranking it based on a combination of asset characteristics, physical observations, operational knowledge, and experience of known issues. We also leverage tools like deterioration modelling which takes into consideration operating pressure, soil condition, pipe type/age and performance of similar pipes to help focus our physical inspections.

4. Why did it impact water use throughout Calgary?

The break is on one of our critical water feedermains that enables us to move water across the city. We are asking everyone to reduce their indoor water use and stop all outdoor water use to share the water we have.

5. How does a break like this impact the whole city?

The break occurred on The Bearspaw South Feedermain, which services Calgarians, as well as our regional customers in Airdrie, Chestermere, and Strathmore.

Our water system is interconnected and what happens in one part of the system can impact another part. With the feedermain offline, all the pipes that connect to this line / within the network are unable to receive water. Glenmore is a smaller plant that is pumping at capacity to make up for the shortfall caused from the Bearspaw South feedermain break. Demand is still exceeding supply at critical parts of the day, which prevents us from replenishing our reservoir storage continuously.

6. Was there any Damage to businesses or nearby homes?

Although some water pooled in nearby business parking lots, there was no damage reported from nearby businesses or homes. Shouldice Athletic Park fields were damaged and we are currently assessing the extent of the damage.

PIPE REPAIRS

Pipe repairs change frequently, and key information can be found at Critical water main break - June 2024 (calgary.ca) 

7. Why was there no physical inspection of the pipe done when the acoustic monitoring equipment was installed in the spring of 2024?

There was no indication a physical inspection was required. The feeder main operated well within its pressure limits and the acoustic monitoring equipment installed early 2024 provided no indication of any issues. The physical inspection would have required shutting down the pipe, putting stress on other pipes in the network. Excavation to visually inspect would have also increased unnecessary risk to the pipe.

WATER USE AND LEVELS

8. How much have Calgarians reduced their water use by?

Normal demand is 600 millions of litres of water per day. The target is to keep our demand below 480 million litres of water per day.

9. Given the improvements, how many days would we have before we run out of water? What are the consequences if we run out of water?

If we can keep conserving, we will be able to maintain our current capacity. However, it all really depends on how much daily water we save. It is critical that everyone does their part.

We are continually monitoring our reservoir levels. A key metric of our contingency plan is if reservoirs were to hit one third capacity. If that happens, it will trigger a need to limit water flow to only fire-fighting efforts to protect life. As well, community water mass distribution plans would be enacted, and we would activate Emergency Social Services to assist folks who have a medical condition that requires water.

If we continue to conserve water like we have, this is unlikely to happen.

10. What is considered essential water use?

We are asking Calgarians to conserve their water use by complying with the mandatory outdoor water restrictions and limiting their indoor water use.

11.Why are city-wide water restrictions needed?

The incident affected a critical water feedermain, and it is impacting our ability to deliver drinking water across the city.

12. What do people need to do?

The City has enacted a Stage 4 mandatory outdoor watering ban. Currently all outdoor water use is prohibited.

We are also asking Calgarians to limit their indoor water use by taking these additional actions:

• Use the dishwasher and washing machine only when required and with full loads.
• Limit showers to three minutes or less and keeping baths shallow if you are able to do so.
• Turn off humidifiers, ice machines and automatic sprinkler systems.
• Turn off water taps when brushing teeth or shaving.

More information can be found at Stage 4 Outdoor water restrictions in effect (calgary.ca)

13. What should businesses do?

Businesses using large volumes of non-essential water, such as laundromats, are being asked to reduce water use. Businesses using water to deliver a product or service that is life sustaining for people, animals and plants are exempt. Other exemptions include any businesses that must use water to meet health code standards, such as hospitals and restaurants.

The City of Calgary is also reducing its non-essential water use. An FAQ located at Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (calgary.ca) lists all the efforts that The City continues to make to reduce water usage.

14. Are there fines for violating outdoor watering restrictions at stage 4?

Given the urgency of this situation, we are counting on all Calgarians to do their part by obeying the mandatory outdoor water restrictions and following the voluntary indoor water restrictions.

The City strives to take an education-first approach with citizens, as it’s important that all Calgarians do their part. Under the act, violations of these restrictions may lead to fines, but we hope everyone complies willingly and that fines arenot required.

If you know your neighbor, you may want to ensure they are aware of the outdoor water restrictions before reporting them to Bylaw.

Otherwise, please contact 311 so Bylaw Officers can follow-up to investigate the situation.

15. Why are City golf courses watering?

The City is resuming the use of non-potable water to irrigate our five City golf course greens. City crews and contractors are using non-potable water to protect 500 newly planted trees. The use of non-potable water does not impact water supply for Calgarians.

16. What other efforts has The City been doing to reduce water usage?

• Facilities have ceased watering plants and flowers, and irrigation of grassy areas maintained for city-owned buildings.
• Decorative water features & fountains have been turned off to conserve water.
• Wash bays for City vehicles are closed. Vehicles will only be washed to comply with environmental, health & safety requirements.

17. Pools & Arenas

• All City-operated aquatic facilities are closed with the water shut off, so no new water enters our pools.
• We have also shut off water in our Leisure Centres to ensure no new water enters our wave pools & water parks. The showers are closed as well.
• All irrigation systems that use potable water have been turned off, and where we need to protect new turf, we are using non-potable water. Athletic parks and the Soccer Centre are open (except for Shouldice Athletic Park), but showers remain closed.

18. Operations & Construction

To avoid additional use of water to wash streets, street sweeping has been postponed. City construction & operational teams have stopped implementing dust suppression where safe to do so.

19. Can we use water at hair salons?

Hair salons and other businesses have been asked to voluntarily limit their indoor water use as they deem appropriate.

20.Why can garden centres/businesses use potable water to water their plants and flowers during Stage 4 restrictions?

Under the Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions, certain businesses are exempt. This includes those businesses using water to deliver a product or service that is life sustaining for people, animals, and plants “that are for sale and not yet planted.”

21.Can we use water from rain barrels to water plants / shrubs? What about grey water?

Yes, you can use water from rain barrels to water plants, shrubs, and gardens. Greywater can also be used to water plants but there are considerations you should investigate further (i.e. don't use greywater to water your vegetable plants).

22. Due to the circumstance, can people collect water from the river or reservoir to water their gardens?

We do not advise Calgarians to collect water from the river due to safety reasons accessing the river. An alternative is to use a rain barrel (or a bucket) to collect rainwater and reuse in your garden.

23. Why can the community garden water their plants but I can’t water my veggie garden?

According to the Water Utility Bylaw, community gardens are allowed to continue using water for their gardens during Stage 4 restrictions, but we have been reaching out to them to urge them to be as efficient as possible with their water use. This includes checking all hoses for leaks and turning hoses off when not in use, using a watering can to hand-water where possible, and only giving plants the water they need to survive. At this point in the growing season, veggie gardens need very little water to survive. Consider putting a tote in your shower to collect clean, cold water while you’re waiting for it to heat up and reuse it to water your veggie garden. Don’t use water collected while showering/bathing or other greywater to water your edible plants.

24. Will The City replace flowers that may die due to limited watering?

Annual flowers that have already been planted will not be watered this year while restrictions are still active. There is no plan to replace them.