A new report has taken a close look at the Bearspaw feeder main after its major failure in 2024, which caused widespread disruption to Calgary’s water system. CBC
Calgary city council has agreed to move ahead with major changes to fix long-standing problems in the city’s water system. Councillors voted unanimously late Wednesday to act on recommendations from an independent panel that reviewed the 2024 failure of the Bearspaw feeder main, a key pipe that delivers drinking water to the city.
Mayor Jeromy Farkas urged council to move quickly and invest fully to prevent future failures. “We cannot cherry-pick. We cannot choose,” Farkas said. “This work has been done for us. The roadmap, the path ahead has been set out. It’s up to council, we are duty-bound now to execute.”
Problems ignored for years
The panel’s report found that the risk of a major failure first appeared more than 20 years ago. After another water main burst in northeast Calgary in 2004, officials flagged similar pipes as high risk. Despite that warning, the city delayed inspections, monitoring, and repairs for decades.
The report explained that while officials knew the consequences of failure would be severe, they believed the chance of a break remained low. That belief pushed funding and attention toward other projects. Over time, small delays added up to serious vulnerability.
The report warned that the Bearspaw feeder main now faces a high risk of another major failure if the city does not act quickly.
Clear steps laid out
The panel called for fast action. It strongly recommended that Calgary speed up work to build a second, parallel feeder main within 12 to 14 months. This second line would act as a backup, ensuring water continues to flow if one pipe fails.
The panel also urged the city to repair and maintain the existing pipe while the new one moves forward. “The priority must be on safety as well as innovation and not as much on cost in order to achieve an aggressive timeline,” the report said.
Another key recommendation calls for creating a dedicated water utility department. The panel said the city split responsibility for water across several departments, which led to slow decisions and unclear accountability.
A new structure for accountability
Under the proposed changes, Calgary would appoint a single leader responsible for the entire water system. An independent board of experts would also guide long-term planning and oversight.
Panel chair Siegfried Kiefer said the problem developed over many years and did not rest with one person or council. “This problem existed. It repeated itself. It did not surface to the right level of decision-making,” he said.
The panel added that Calgary’s rapid growth and spread-out neighbourhoods place extra strain on its water system, which already ranks among the most complex in Canada.
Mayor calls for long-term thinking
Farkas said Calgary must treat the water fix as a once-in-a-generation project. “When you think about this as a mega-project to guarantee Calgary safe and reliable drinking water for the next hundred years, we need to be willing to invest,” he said. He also pointed to reserve funds, adding, “The rainy day fund is there for a reason. It's raining out there.”
Council members questioned the panel late into the night. When asked how urgent the situation was, panel members rated concern between nine and 10 out of 10.
