Calgary's mayor says residents should expect restrictions on their water use to last into the weekend as workers continue work to fix a major pipeline break and restore supply. The Calgary skyline is seen on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
CALGARY - A new section of water pipe arrived in Calgary on Tuesday, as Mayor Jyoti Gondek urged residents to continue conserving water to prevent shortages.
Mayor Gondek emphasized the importance of limiting water use, such as taking shorter showers and avoiding lawn watering. “Everything you’re doing matters for all of us,” she stated, as Calgary, with its 1.6 million residents, entered its sixth day of both voluntary and mandatory water rationing.
These measures followed a fracture in one of the city's main feeder pipes last Wednesday, which flooded a northwest neighborhood and significantly lowered water levels.
Nancy Mackay, the city’s director of water services, reported that crews have isolated and removed the damaged section of the large concrete pipe. A replacement pipe arrived later in the day and was scheduled to be installed over the next two days. However, it could take up to three additional days to flush the entire water main and another two days to fill the pipe and test water quality.
"We do not have a date for the restoration of the service," Mackay said, though she expects to provide a more precise timeline by mid-next week. She acknowledged that this process is taking longer than initially anticipated.
The city has enforced a mandatory ban on outdoor watering activities and has urged residents to voluntarily reduce indoor water usage, such as minimizing toilet flushes and limiting the use of laundry machines and dishwashers. The goal is to reduce water consumption by 25% to prevent reservoirs from depleting and to ensure sufficient water for firefighting.
Sue Henry, head of the Calgary Emergency Management Agency, noted that most residents have complied with the restrictions. Since the measures began last Thursday, the city issued 993 notices, including 249 written warnings, 321 verbal warnings, and one ticket.
"We are not out of the woods yet, and we ask you to make water conservation a part of your daily routine," Henry urged.
The city also remains under a fire ban.
In the Bowness neighborhood, where the pipeline break occurred, the 10,000 residents affected were provided with fresh water and advised to boil tap water. The boil water advisory was lifted on Monday night.
