The city has not shared new information regarding the pipe, but I will of course share them when they are updated.
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Our crews will be on site today marking the location of the feeder main. Residents may notice blue paint on the roadway which marks out the location of the pipe beneath the road.
Crews from Alberta One Call will also be in the area identifying other underground utilities. Residents will notice various colours of paint marking their locations on the road, sidewalk and grassed areas along with small flags in the ground. In some cases, crews may need to enter the front or back of private property from the outside but won’t need to enter inside homes or businesses.
Construction update
After reviewing the results from our PipeDiver inspection, combined with previous testing and ongoing acoustic monitoring, we’ve determined that repairs will be needed on 21 pipe segments of the feeder main and two additional segments. We’ve decided to increase the number of repairs to reinforce areas near urgent repairs, even if those areas aren’t yet showing major issues.
These repairs will involve 16 to 18 excavation sites, but the exact number might change as we uncover and assess the condition of the pipes. The planned excavation sites are along 16 Avenue N.W. and 33 Avenue N.W. and east of the Bow River Bridge adjacent to Shouldice Park with limited impact to 16 Avenue N.W.
The repairs will be completed between August 26 and September 23 and then we will begin work on the additional two pipe segments on Parkdale Boulevard and near Crowchild Trail.
We do not anticipate these repairs to be as disruptive to Calgarians as what will be experienced during the first phase of repairs.
Now that we’ve identified the specific pipe segments needing repair, our construction crews are developing a plan to sequence the work. Next week, we’ll provide more details on the repair plan to ensure the process is as efficient as possible.
Community outreach
In the coming days, our teams will be reaching out to impacted residents along 33 Avenue N.W. to establish direct communication and understand any special requirements they may have. If residents aren’t home, we will leave information behind for them.
We have been in contact with the Business Improvement Areas and will be speaking with impacted businesses early next week.
Calgarians can sign up for email updates to stay informed about specific repair locations, road closures and other impacts at calgary.ca/watermainbreak.
Water conservation
While we’re not in an emergency situation like we were during the original break, the specific areas of the feeder main that were identified from our pipe inspections are at risk of failure. These repairs are needed now to help us avoid an unplanned break that could disrupt our water supply during winter.
During the repair, most of our water will come from the Glenmore Reservoir. It is important that we finish this work now to give us enough time to refill the Reservoir and keep our water supply stable during winter.
When we move into Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions on August 26, Calgarians will still have access to safe, clean drinking water, even though our treated water supply will be limited. For non-drinking purposes like gardening and construction, we will be opening non-potable river water pick-up stations for residential and commercial use. Locations and hours will be provided on calgary.ca, when available.
We are asking Calgarians to also reduce their indoor water use to help minimize the strain on our supply while work is underway. Simple actions like flushing toilets only when necessary, doing full loads of laundry and taking short showers of three minutes or less make a big difference.
We will continue our conversations with businesses to understand their challenges and provide guidance on specific ways to reduce water use. Businesses can visit calgary.ca/savewateratwork to download our information sheets with water-saving tips for staff and customers and to learn more on how to prepare.
We know this situation is challenging for everyone and your support is critical to ensure we maintain enough water for essential services like firefighting and hospitals.
Next steps
As part of our prep work, we will be cutting into sections of pavement along 33 Avenue N.W. to expose the feeder main for repairs. This work will begin next week, and there will be temporary parking restrictions in effect for some areas. Additionally, an equipment storage area will be set up at 83 Street N.W. and 33 Avenue N.W., which will store materials and various equipment needed for the repairs. Fencing will be installed to ensure the site remains safe and secure. Approximately 10 small trees will be removed to prepare the area and we are developing a plan to replant or relocate those trees.
We’ve been using external acoustic monitoring devices since March and April to keep an eye on wire snaps along the feeder main. Now, as part of the repair work, we’re installing a new fiber optic acoustic monitoring system inside the pipe. This system will be more accurate in detecting wire snaps and monitoring the pipe’s condition.
Starting next week, crews will begin installing the fiber optic cable, which may involve work around manholes, using tripods and large reels of cable. As we carry out this installation and prepare for the upcoming repair work, there will be some single-lane road closures. These closures are necessary for the safety of our crews and we thank your for your patience during this time.
We appreciate your understanding and support as we undertake these critical repairs to the feeder main. We are committed to getting the repairs completed on time and will be working 24 hours a day, seven days a week to minimize the impact on Calgarians, businesses, and our regional partners. We will keep you updated throughout the entire process.
