‘We are at risk of running out’: Calgarians asked to use 25% less water than yesterday

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 is 11 kilometres long and as wide 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, forcing the closure of several roads and intersections, including 16th Avenue in both directions.

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

‘This current level of water use cannot continue’

During a press conference on Friday morning at the city’s Emergency Operations Centre, Nancy Mackay, the city’s director of water services, said while Calgarians were able to reduce their water use during the day on Thursday, the city’s water use peaked again in the evening hours once 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.”

The Stage 4 water restrictions remain in place, and the city continues to maintain a mandatory 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 as dishwashers 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.

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 and manor 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 Street N.W. beside Bowness Car Wash).

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.

The Trans-Canada Highway remains closed eastbound between Sarcee Trail and Home Road N.W. The highway is also closed westbound between Home Road and 49 Street N.W.

The closure notice is set to 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.”