Water-main break closes 17 Avenue S.W.; 22 businesses affected

The City of Calgary is working on repairing a water main break on 17 Avenue S.W. Mason DePatie reports.

The City of Calgary says 22 businesses are impacted by a water-main break on 17 Avenue S.W. between 14 and 15 streets S.W.

Officials say a contractor punctured the water main Wednesday afternoon.

The road was subsequently closed.

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Crews are now working to determine what needs to be repaired.

The city says fixing a break depends on several factors including how quickly it can be located, the size and complexity of the break, ground conditions and current weather conditions.

“Our goal is to have repairs complete and water service restored in under 48 hours, but sometimes this is not possible,” city officials said in a statement.

“A simple repair may take around 24 hours to complete, while complicated breaks may take 72 or more hours to repair.”

As of 6 a.m. Thursday, one lane of traffic in each direction on 17 Avenue S.W. had reopened.

The city says the 22 businesses impacted are out of water, but that water wagons have been provided.

Water restrictions return March 9

The latest break comes as Calgary prepares for another round of city-wide water restrictions.

Starting March 9, the City of Calgary will shut down the Bearspaw South feeder main for planned reinforcement work.

The feeder main is a major pipeline that typically supplies much of the city’s water.

The shutdown is expected to last about four weeks while crews strengthen multiple sections of the aging line.

This is the first of two planned rounds of restrictions, with another set anticipated in the fall.

During the shutdown, outdoor water use will be prohibited. Residents are being asked to reduce indoor water use as well.

The city has slightly raised its sustainable water use level and is asking Calgarians to cut consumption by three per cent, about 25 litres per person.

Officials say the work is aimed at stabilizing the feeder main while longer-term upgrades continue, including the eventual addition of a new parallel pipe.

With files from Tyson Fedor, CTV News