'We are at risk of running out': Calgarians asked to use 25% less water than yesterday | CBC News (2024)

CBC News

· Posted: Jun 07, 2024 10:40 AM EDT | Last Updated: 5 hours ago

After a major feeder water main break plunged Calgary's water supply into a critical state, city officials are now asking Calgarians to use 25 per cent less than they did yesterday, sounding the alarm that the city is at risk of running out.

The Bearspaw south water main — which is11 kilometres long and aswide as two metres in parts — suffered a break Wednesday night that left hundreds of homes and businesses in the city's northwest without water.

Just before 7 p.m. Wednesday, the break caused streets to suddenly flood in the Montgomery area around Home Road, forcingthe closure of several roads and intersections, including 16th Avenuein both directions.

In a news release sent Friday morning, the city says it ishopeful crewswill be able to determine the cause of the break at some point on Friday.

• City officials are going to provide an update on the water main break at 3:30 p.m. on Friday. Watch it live on cbc.ca/calgary or on the CBC Alberta YouTube channel.

"The crews have been working 24/7," said Mayor Jyoti Gondekin an interview with the Calgary Eyeopener on Friday morning.

"We don't know what went wrong yet. What I can tell you is that this piece of infrastructure was identified for maintenance work earlier this year, and that work took place in April. And that's a good news story that our water teams are very well aware of how to maintain our infrastructure."

'This current level of water use cannot continue'

During apress conference on Fridaymorning at the city's Emergency Operations Centre, Nancy Mackay, the city's director of water services, saidwhile Calgarians were able to reduce their water use during the day on Thursday, the city's water use peaked again in the evening hoursonce people returned home from work.

"This current level of water use cannot continue," said Mackay.

"If we do not reduce our water use even further, we are at risk of running out."

LISTEN | Calgary's mayor discusses repairs to the feeder main:

The Stage 4 water restrictions remain in place, and the city continues to maintain amandatory outdoor watering ban. Officials are also asking Calgarians to limit their non-essential water use by taking these additional actions:

• Limiting showers and keeping baths shallow.
• Delay using appliances that use water, such asdishwashers and washing machines.
• Turning off humidifiers and ice machines.
• Turning off water taps when not in use.
• Reducing water use in any way that can be done safely.

When asked about possibly invoking mandatory indoor water restrictions, Mackay said that the city is still only asking Calgarians to "scale back where they can."

"The one thing that we do know about Calgarians is that they do step up."

A boil-water advisory for the community of Bowness remains in place. The boil-water advisory requires all residents and businesses in Bowness to bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute before any consumption, including:

• Drinking.
• Brushing teeth.
• Cleaning raw foods.
• Preparing infant formula or juices.
• Making ice.

WATCH| Officials urge Calgarians to conserve water:

The city has placed nine water wagons around the Bowness area in these locations:

• 4527 77 St. N.W. (Bowness Community Association)
• 5927 Bowness Rd. N.W. (Bow Crest Nursing Home).
• 7311 34 Ave. N.W. (Our Lady of Assumption School).
• 4631 85 St. N.W. (On 85th Street beside Belvedere Parkway School).
• 7915 43 Ave. N.W. (Bow Centre Seniors Home).
• 2003 46 St. N.W. (James Shouldice Manor,access between school andmanor on 47th Street.
• 82 Juniper Dr. N.W.
• 4628 Montgomery Blvd. N.W. (Bow View Manor Nursing Home).
• 6540 Bowness Rd. N.W. (on 65th StreetN.W. beside Bowness Car Wash).

LISTEN | Ward 1 city councillor talks about the community impact:

The citywide fire ban is also still in effect.

As of Friday morning, bylaw officers had attended eight calls for fires and 56 calls for misuse of water.

"What we found yesterday with a lot of the calls is that people were unaware," said Sue Henry, chief of the Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) during Friday's press conference.

Henry says the city will continue to take an education-based approach.

WATCH| How residents are dealing with the water main break:

The Trans-Canada Highway remainsclosed eastboundbetweenSarcee Trail andHome Road N.W.The highway is also closed westbound between Home Road and 49Street N.W.

The closure notice is setto be in effect until Monday morning, according to the city's website.

"This is a massive break that cannot be repaired in a day or two," said Mackay.

"Just as we came together in the floods of 2013, we need everyone to do their part."

Ward 1 Coun. Sonya Sharp said the ongoing water issues have been a "shock" to Bowness residents.

"This community has been through so much since the floods in 2013," Sharp told CBC Radio host Loren McGinnis on Friday morning.

Despite the stress, Sharp said that, on Thursday, the BownessCommunity Associationbecame a hub for the neighbourhood to help each other out.

The city councillor said that for senior residents and residents with mobility issues, the water wagon locations weren't easilyaccessible. In order to address theimmediate need for water,community members delivered bottles to each other's houses andthe local community centre.

"It just shows that this community comes together so quickly and supports one another."

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