Calgary ends water restrictions, 'effective immediately'

Water restrictions lifted in Calgary Calgarians can now take long showers, water their gardens and wash their windows now that restrictions on water use have been lifted.

The City of Calgary ended water restrictions for the city at a Sunday morning update.

"Today is the day we have been waiting for," said Francois Bouchart, Calgary's director of capital priorities and investment.

"The system is stabilized. Our reservoirs have been refilled. We are rescinding Stage 4 Water Restrictions effective immediately."

Mayor Jyoti Gondek praised Calgarians for stepping up and conserving water during a hot, dry summer.

“I'd like to thank each and every person who worked on this critical maintenance project, and helped ensure the safety and security of our water system," said Gondek.

"A special thank you to everyone who understood the importance of saving water," she added, "and helped reduce pressure on our water system. My thoughts have especially been with the residents and businesses of Bowness and Montgomery."

Since late August, there has been a ban on any outdoor water use with potable supplies, and Calgarians have been urged to take shorter showers, skip toilet flushes and hold off on laundry and dishes.

It was the second round of water rationing since the feeder main in northwest Calgary burst in early June.

“My job as mayor doesn't end with the return to service of the Bearspaw South Feeder Main. I look forward to receiving the reports from the internal review and the independent, third-party review, and sharing them with Calgarians and with other orders of government.

"You've been patient," she said. "You've been collaborative. You've been very strong together."

Reduced costs

Calgary chief administrative officer David Duckworth estimated the cost of repairs for the second round of repairs to be less than the first round, which was estimated to have cost between $20-$25 million.

For the second round, Duckworth estimated the cost to be somewhere between $15 million and $20 million.

While restrictions have ended, Bouchart said there will be two more minor repairs done at a later date, one in Parkdale and one along Memorial Drive.

He said businesses that were impacted by the repairs are being consulted to determine the extent of their losses.

Gondek also thanked the provincial government for stepping up during the city's water crisis and providing timely support..

"Collaboration is key to getting things done," she said. "Infrastructure is not partisan.

"The province were excellent to work with."

Impacted businesses

Within hours of the restrictions being lifted, Great North Landscaping and Construction was fielding calls for people looking to get sodding projects finished.

“I received, two calls just right now and two message from the customers,” said the company’s owner Satwinder Singh. “I told them you need to wait, and I will (check) my schedules.”

He estimates he only has six weeks left before the cold weather hits, at which point he can no longer do those types of projects. Since the water restrictions came into effect in June, he estimates he had to cancel on eight to nine customers and delay another 10.

“If they lifted up earlier then we can do more good business but, we already lose a lot of business,” said Singh.

He estimates the water restrictions cost his businesses over $10,000 lost in revenue.

With files from The Canadian Press