The City has announced that, based on new information, additional urgent repairs are needed to the Bearspaw South Feeder Main. This conclusion is based on analysis of the recent results from our PipeDiver device, combined with previous testing and ongoing acoustic monitoring. While this is not an emergency situation like we experienced in June, the new data has uncovered additional points in the pipe where urgent repair work is needed by the end of September.
“This news is not what any of us wanted to hear,” says Mayor Jyoti Gondek. “However, I am grateful that we have the PipeDiver results. That important information is allowing us to immediately act to protect our water system against potential breaks. To everyone in the Calgary region, particularly residents and businesses in Bowness and Montgomery, I understand how much this impacts your lives. You have my word that we will continue to do everything we can to improve the stability and security of water in our city.”
Timing is crucial for managing Calgary’s water supply through the winter. Calgary sources its water from the Bow and Elbow Rivers. The Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant draws water from the Bow River, while the Glenmore Water Treatment Plant sources from the Elbow River. During spring and summer, river flows are higher due to rainfall and snowmelt in the mountains. In late fall and winter, we rely on the Glenmore Reservoir as our water “bank,” drawing it down as flows on the Elbow River decrease. We need to complete the repairs while the flow is still high enough to refill the Reservoir for winter. 
Repair work and timing
To facilitate these urgent repairs, we will need to shut down the South Bearspaw Feeder Main and stop the flow of water through it between August 26 and the end of September.
During this time, we will return to Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions and will also be asking Calgarians and businesses to limit their non-essential indoor water use to reduce the strain on our rivers and water treatment plants while work is underway.
Residents will be asked to take three specific actions: taking three-minute showers, skipping flushes where possible, and only running full loads of laundry and dishes. Businesses will be asked to aim to reduce indoor water use by 25 per cent. No businesses will be asked to close unless absolutely necessary. The City of Calgary will also be reducing its non-essential water use.
“We understand that water restrictions play a major role in the day-to-day life of Calgarians, and we want to thank you for your continued support as we rehabilitate the Bearspaw South Feeder Main together,” says Michael Thompson, General Manager, Infrastructure Services. “These urgent repairs are required to proactively support the stability of our water system. We are committed to getting the required repairs completed to keep water flowing safely to you.”
Next steps
The majority of this work will take place along a section of 33 Avenue N.W. There will also likely be a repair required on Parkdale Boulevard, and we may also perform some additional repairs on 16 Avenue N.W. The precise locations and extent of these repairs will be communicated in the coming weeks as we learn more information. We will communicate directly with impacted residents and businesses in the area as construction plans evolve.
We are currently developing a rehabilitation plan, with reinforced concrete encasement being the preferred method. This involves exposing the pipe through excavation, constructing an exterior reinforcing steel cage, pouring concrete and backfilling the excavation. Although this method does not involve removing pipe segments, the pipe must be taken out of service due to the water pressure and to ensure worker safety. We also have contingency plans in place should we encounter additional issues, and we are prepared to respond rapidly.
For now, we remain in Stage 1 Outdoor Water Restrictions until work begins the week of August 26. We will have teams working 24 hours a day, seven days a week to restore water service to Calgarians as safely and quickly as possible.
We are committed to providing regular updates. For more information, visit calgary.ca/restrictions.
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Bearspaw South Feeder Main break and response – Timeline of key events
June 5: Bearspaw South Feeder Main break is initially identified
- June 5: sent out release and emergency alert on phone. Major Water Main Break in N.W. Under Investigation: https://newsroom.calgary.ca/major-water-main-break-in-nw-under-investigation/
June 6: Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions in place, and urgent appeal is made to limit indoor water use
- June 6: City issues boil water advisory for Bowness and Stage 4 Outdoor Watering ban for all residents and businesses: https://newsroom.calgary.ca/city-issues-boil-water-advisory-for-bowness-and-stage-4-outdoor-watering-ban-for-all-residents-and-businesses/
- June 10: Boil water advisory lifted for community of Bowness: https://newsroom.calgary.ca/update-8-boil-water-advisory-lifted-for-community-of-bowness/
June 14: As repairs are made, robot scanner identifies 5 additional “hot spots”, in need of emergency repair, and several other areas of weakness that are less severe
- June 14: Detection of hot spots: significant additional damage has been found and other sections of the pipe now also need to be repaired. Update June 14: Critical water main break affecting city-wide water usage: https://newsroom.calgary.ca/update-june-14-critical-water-main-break-affecting-city-wide-water-usage/
June 15: State of Local Emergency declared – Five hot spot replacement sites prepared
- June 15: City of Calgary Declares State of Local Emergency Update June 15: https://newsroom.calgary.ca/update-june-15-city-of-calgary-declares-state-of-local-emergency/
June 16: San Diego Water Authority sends us a segment of pipe
- June 16: We have concluded the inspection on the remaining 300 metres of pipe and preliminary results indicate no new hot spots have been identified. We are grateful to San Diego County Water Authority for sending us a segment of pipe for our feeder main. Update June 16: Critical water main break affecting city-wide water usage: https://newsroom.calgary.ca/update-june-16-critical-water-main-break-affecting-city-wide-water-usage/
June 17: Repairs to the feeder main are complete
- June 17: Repairs have been completed on the original feeder main break near 16 Avenue N.W. and Home Road, and construction is now under way on the remaining five hot spots at two new construction area locations on 16 Ave. Update June 17: Critical water main break affecting city-wide water usage: https://newsroom.calgary.ca/update-june-17-critical-water-main-break-affecting-city-wide-water-usage/
June 18 to 25: Repair of hotspots
- June 18: The initial site of the large feeder main break has been repaired. Construction activity continues as we strive toward repairing the five hot spots identified beyond the initial break location. Update June 18: Critical water main break affecting city-wide water usage: https://newsroom.calgary.ca/update-june-18-critical-water-main-break-affecting-city-wide-water-usage/
- June 19: With the arrival of two new lengths of pipe from San Diego early this morning and excavation complete at the sites of five hot spots, work on repairing the water feeder main break is progressing faster than expected. Update June: 19 Critical water main break affecting city-wide water usage: https://newsroom.calgary.ca/update-june-19-critical-water-main-break-affecting-city-wide-water-usage/
- June 21: City renews State of Local Emergency. Update June 21: Critical water main break affecting city-wide water usage: https://newsroom.calgary.ca/update-june-21-critical-water-main-break-affecting-city-wide-water-usage/
- June 23: Repair work continues to progress on the water feeder main hot spots and installation of new pipe sections has begun. We are replacing four out of five of the hot spots. Update June 23: Critical water main break affecting city-wide water usage: https://newsroom.calgary.ca/update-june-23-critical-water-main-break-affecting-city-wide-water-usage/
- June 25: Repair work on the feeder main break near 16 Avenue N.W. and Home Road is entering a final critical phase as City crews work restoring the water line back into service. Update June 25: Critical water main break affecting city-wide water usage: https://newsroom.calgary.ca/update-june-25-critical-water-main-break-affecting-city-wide-water-usage/
June 26 to 28: Final repairs
- June 26: Today it’s expected that crews will begin paving over the recently completed repairs at hot spots along 16 Avenue N.W. as Calgary braces for the next critical phase of return to service. Update June 26: Critical water main break affecting city-wide water usage: https://newsroom.calgary.ca/update-june-26-critical-water-main-break-affecting-city-wide-water-usage/
- June 27: City renews State of Local Emergency; with paving of 16th Avenue N.W. substantially completed, crews have started slowly and carefully filling the water feeder main and we are on track to start flushing the pipe tomorrow. Update June 27: Critical water main break affecting city-wide water usage: https://newsroom.calgary.ca/update-june-27-critical-water-main-break-affecting-city-wide-water-usage/
June 28: Repairs complete, and work begins to put feeder main back into service; Ongoing acoustic and pressure monitoring
- June 28: Today we remain in the filling stage as we reintroduce pressure to the pipe slowly and carefully in preparation for flushing. We anticipate this step to be completed later tonight and flushing of the pipe is expected to commence shortly after. Update June 28: Critical water main break affecting city-wide water usage: https://newsroom.calgary.ca/update-june-28-critical-water-main-break-affecting-city-wide-water-usage/
- June 29: Work is on schedule restoring water service to the feeder main, which crews finished filling with water last night and flushing being completed this afternoon. Update June 29: Critical water main break affecting city-wide water usage: https://newsroom.calgary.ca/update-june-29-critical-water-main-break-affecting-city-wide-water-usage/
- June 30: Water quality testing for the repaired section of the 16 Avenue N.W. feeder main, meets and exceeds water quality standards, indicating it is safe for consumption. Update June 30: Critical water main break affecting city-wide water usage: https://newsroom.calgary.ca/update-june-30-critical-water-main-break-affecting-city-wide-water-usage/
July 1: Repair of feeder main is complete
- July 1: Now that the repairs to the critical feeder main break are complete, we are working on safely restoring the city’s water supply and the future gradual easing of indoor water saving measures. Update July 1: Critical water main break affecting city-wide water usage: https://newsroom.calgary.ca/update-july-1-critical-water-main-break-affecting-city-wide-water-usage/
July 2: Indoor water conservation measures eased
- July 2: lifting indoor water restrictions. Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions in place. Update July 2: Critical water main break affecting city-wide water usage: https://newsroom.calgary.ca/update-july-2-critical-water-main-break-affecting-city-wide-water-usage/
July 4: Inspection of entire Bearspaw South Feeder Main by pipe diver device
- July 4: State of Local Emergency expires but Municipal Emergency Plan is still activated and Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions remain in place. We are now undertaking a full condition assessment of the 11 kilometres using a piece of technology called a PipeDiver. Update July 4: Critical water main break affecting city-wide water usage: https://newsroom.calgary.ca/update-july-4-critical-water-main-break-affecting-city-wide-water-usage/
July 6: Outdoor Water Restrictions moved to Stage 3
Stage 3 Restrictions in place July 6 to July 18
- July 6: The City took another big step in its recovery from the Bearspaw South Feeder Main break today moving Calgarians from Stage 4 water restrictions to Stage 3 and lifting the fire ban. Update July 6: Critical water main break affecting city-wide water usage: https://newsroom.calgary.ca/update-july-6-critical-water-main-break-affecting-city-wide-water-usage/
- July 10: With hot temperatures continuing in the forecast, The City of Calgary is making an exception under our Stage 3 Outdoor Water Restrictions to now allow all outdoor pools, including private residential backyard and kiddie pools, as well as non-residential outdoor pools. Update July 10: Critical water main break affecting city-wide water usage: https://newsroom.calgary.ca/update-july-10-critical-water-main-break-affecting-city-wide-water-usage/
July 18: Outdoor Water Restrictions moved to Stage 2
- July 18: Today, we achieved another major milestone in the recovery from the Bearspaw South Feeder Main break, by moving from Stage 3 to Stage 2 Outdoor Water Restrictions. Update July 18: Critical water main break affecting city-wide water usage: https://newsroom.calgary.ca/update-july-18-critical-water-main-break-affecting-city-wide-water-usage/
Stage 2 Restrictions in place July 18 to July 23
July 23 : Outdoor Water Restrictions moved to Stage 1
- July 23: The City continues its recovery from the Bearspaw South Feeder Main break, moving to Stage 1 Outdoor Water Restrictions on Tuesday, July 23. Update July 23: Critical water main break affecting city-wide water usage: https://newsroom.calgary.ca/update-july-23-critical-water-main-break-affecting-city-wide-water-usage/
Stage 1 Outdoor Water Restrictions in place July 23 to present
July 26: Initial data back from pipe diver, analysis ongoing, short-term planning begins
July 31: Decision made to leave flow rate at 70% and leave Stage 1 Outdoor Water Restrictions in effect for immediate future
August 2: Decision communicated to leave flow rate at 70% and leave Stage 1 Outdoor Water Restrictions in effect for immediate future
August 7: City announces discovery of new areas requiring urgent repair between August 26 and the end of September
