Water restrictions in Calgary could be lifted as soon as Thursday, as city officials say repairs to the beleaguered Bearspaw South Feeder Main are finished.
An update from the city is expected this morning.
Mayor Jeromy Farkas said on Tuesday the refilling of the pipe was complete and the pumps were being turned on to reintroduce flow. This step didn’t automatically mean Calgary was in the clear — as officials have cautioned that re‑pressurizing the pipe is the most delicate stage of the repairs.
The city had continued to warn that the risk of another break in the aging feeder main remains present.
Testing completed earlier this week has confirmed the water flowing through the repaired pipe is safe to consume.
On Wednesday, Calgarians used 503 million litres of water, entering the risky ‘red’ zone after a multi-day ‘green’ run.
Stage 4 water restrictions were introduced for the third time in two years on March 9 to allow for repairs to the Bearspaw South Feeder Main.
During this time, residents have been asked to limit showers to three minutes, and only use washing machines and dishwashers when there are full loads.
The repairs deemed necessary to keep the pipe alive as crews work to build a new feeder main. The timeline for the replacement pipe has been fast-tracked — scheduled to be done by the end of the year. Officials have said projects of this size typically take four years to finish.
