Calgary’s broken water main could be back in action as early as July 1
As Calgarians continue to limit their water usage, city officials have announced that the damaged water main that’s triggered a state of emergency may be repaired earlier than expected.
No specific date has been given, however, for when the mandatory ban on outdoor watering will be lifted.
On Wednesday afternoon, Mayor Jyoti Gondek explained that with the damaged areas of the critical water feeder main now repaired, work has begun to fill the line with water, flush out debris, and test water quality.
“If every step goes according to plan, it's possible we could have water service restored by the first of July,” Gondek said.
“The filling of the pipe begins this evening and could last between a day to two days. Then, the flushing of the pipe will likely begin on Friday to remove debris or other substances and allow for clean water to flow through the main. Lab testing of the water is next, and it’s anticipated that will happen on the weekend with regular pressure slowly being restored.”
After that, officials say the easing of water use restrictions can begin.
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But Calgary Director of Capital Priorities and Investment Francois Bouchart said that regardless of how soon the pipe returns to service, the lifting of restrictions will indeed happen gradually.
“Outdoor water restrictions would not be where we would act first. It would be easing (voluntary calls for) indoor water conservation where we would start first,” he explained.
The damage to the crucial water main, which carries water to more than 1.2 million Calgarians from the Bearspaw water treatment plant, was first identified on the evening of June 5.
A large section of the 78-inch pipe, which extends east from the plant in northwest Calgary, was quickly taken out of service as crews began investigating the extent of the damage.
In the days following the initial rupture, robotic surveys identified five additional locations in the pipe in need of repair.
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Since that first week, as repairs got underway with replacement parts being rushed in from as far as San Diego, all Calgarians have been subject to mandatory outdoor water use restrictions while being encouraged to limit indoor water consumption as well.
Initially, city officials gave a three- to five-week timeline for returning the pipe to operation. Last week, the repair timeline was narrowed down to include a target completion date of July 5, the same day the Calgary Stampede is set to begin. Then, on Tuesday, Gondek indicated the line could return to service even earlier than that.
Mayor Gondek stressed Wednesday, though, that the water-saving efforts of Calgarians need to continue for now and that the timeline could be pushed back if unforeseen challenges are encountered.
“We need to keep conserving water by doing things like you have been doing, by keeping showers shorter and running only full loads of laundry,” Gondek said.
“If we have any issues stabilizing the system, it could be more days. That’s why it’s important to use less water every day until we know for sure that we have the all-clear.’”
Thumbnail image taken by Connor O'Donovan.