CALGARY – The City of Calgary is issuing a Boil Water Advisory for the community of Bowness, implementing Stage 4 outdoor watering restrictions for all of Calgary immediately and calling for Calgarians to limit non-essential indoor water use.
On the evening of Wednesday, June 5, The City discovered a large water main break in the Bowness and Montgomery area. The break is on a critical transmission line that enables us to move water across the city.
The City has enacted its Municipal Emergency Plan and currently, we do not have an estimate for how long the Boil Water Advisory or the water restrictions will be necessary. This issue is temporary, and our crews are working 24/7 to complete the necessary repair work.
The Boil Water Advisory requires all residents and businesses in Bowness to bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute prior to any consumption, including:
· drinking
· brushing teeth
· cleaning raw foods
· preparing infant formula or juices
· making ice, etc.
Alberta Health Services and The City of Calgary will continue to monitor the situation, including sampling and testing of the drinking water to ensure it is safe for consumption. This advisory is being issued out of an abundance of caution.
This advisory will remain in effect until further notice.
For more information on Boil Water Advisories and using water safely when an advisory is in place, resources for homeowners and businesses is available here: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/eph/Page15235.aspx#boilwater
To share the water currently available, The City has also invoked a mandatory outdoor watering ban and we are asking Calgarians to limit their non-essential water use by taking these additional actions:
· Delay using dishwashers and washing machines
· Limiting shower times and keeping baths shallow.
· Turning off humidifiers and ice machines
· Turn off water taps when not in use.
Businesses using large volumes of non-essential water, such as laundromats and car washes, 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.
We are working with our partners in Alberta Health Services and Alberta Environment & Protected Areas to ensure drinking water continues to meet or exceed regulatory and water quality standards as we make the required repairs.
As Calgarians set out to begin their day, we would encourage them to avoid the impacted area around 16 Ave. and Home Rd. N.W. and to plan some extra time around their commute as there may be traffic impacts as a result of this incident.
We will provide updates when information is available via local media, social media, 311 and Calgary.ca/wateroutages, and will inform Calgarians when Stage 4 water restrictions are no longer needed.
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