Calgary’s daily water consumption surpassed the city’s sustainability threshold for the first time since restrictions began last week. On Sunday, residents and nearby communities used 504 million litres, breaking a six-day streak below the 500 million litre limit.
Expected Uptick and Call for Continued Conservation
City officials anticipated a slight increase, noting Sundays often see higher demand. “We get it, and one day in the red does not undo the excellent work we all did through last week,” stated Michael Thompson, general manager of City of Calgary Infrastructure Services. “We still have three weeks to go before the feeder main is back in service, so today, I want to ask you to start week two strong.”
Background on Restrictions and Savings Tips
Water restrictions started on March 9 after crews shut down the Bearspaw feeder main, which supplies 60 percent of the city’s treated water, for reinforcement repairs following two major failures in under two years. Officials urge residents to cut usage by 25 litres per person daily through measures like skipping some toilet flushes, limiting showers to three minutes, and running dishwashers and washers only when full.
Local Efforts at YMCA Calgary
At YMCA Calgary, where showers account for 85 percent of water use, staff save about 15,000 litres daily by promoting the city’s three-minute shower guideline. “We’re saving about 15,000 litres a day and we’re doing that mostly by talking to our members,” said Nick Wiggins, operations vice-president.
Weekend Events Underscore Conservation Need
Two incidents over the weekend emphasized the value of reserves. A boil-water advisory in Spruce Cliff, parts of Wildwood, and Rosscarrock required flushing pipes and hydrants, consuming two million litres over three days before lifting. Early Monday, a large fire in Manchester Industrial Park demanded seven million litres to extinguish.
“These are the kinds of situations that make it so important that we have a sufficient supply of treated water in our underground storage tanks,” Thompson explained. “Because of the actions you took last week to save water, we had enough available in our underground storage tanks to deal with these two issues.”
Repair Progress on Bearspaw Feeder Main
Crews continue work on nine segments along 16 Avenue near Sarcee Trail and in Point McKay Park. The pipe is drained, trench boxes installed, and initial concrete encasements poured Monday, with more scheduled this week.
“This is difficult work, it’s precise work, and it’s work that is happening around the clock,” Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas told reporters. “Even in weather like we’ve seen recently, crews are out there every day making progress and moving this project forward.”
Repairs should wrap by April 9, described by Farkas as a temporary inconvenience ahead of full replacement by year-end. The city allocated $40 million for these fixes within a $609 million water infrastructure funding request, set for council review Tuesday.
