Shorten your showers: water restrictions return to Calgary March 9

Water restrictions are returning for Calgary and surrounding area next month as repairs to the Bearspaw South Feeder Main are slated to begin.

Calgarians are again being asked to keep their showers to three minutes long and refrain from flushing toilets more than necessary when water restrictions return next month.

Reinforcement repairs on Calgary’s problematic Bearpaw South feeder main start March 9 in an effort to support the pipe’s stability.

The feeder main has suffered two catastrophic breaks since June 2024, both prompting long-lasting water restrictions.

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The upcoming work will target up to nine segments of the existing pipe that are experiencing enhanced deterioration.

These reinforcements are intended to support the feeder main until a new parallel steel pipe is completed and can take over service from the current line.

The reinforcement work on the Bearpaw South feeder main will take place along 16 Avenue N.W., near Sarcee Trail.

It’s expected to last four weeks.

The city is also exploring three potential reinforcements at Point McKay Park.

Water restrictions return

When water restrictions return on March 9, Calgarians will be asked to save 25-30 litres of water a day by taking the following actions:

Keeping showers short, three minutes or less;

Flushing toilets only when necessary; and

Only running dishwashers and washing machines when there is a full load.

Outdoor water use will not be permitted during the four weeks that the repair work is underway.

“We understand that these reinforcements will have impacts on the community,” the city said in a Friday news release. “We are working with those directly impacted and more information on construction will continued to be shared with the area.”

During the water main repair work, regular updates will be provided online at Calgary.ca.