Crews are making significant headway in repairing Calgary’s second major water main break within two years, despite the challenging cold weather conditions, as per the city’s most recent update on Saturday.
Michael Thompson, the general manager of Infrastructure Services, mentioned that working in the cold presents challenges but praised the crews for their commendable progress on the repair work.
The water has been successfully drained from the site, the pipe has been excavated, and preparations are underway to remove it. The city has set a target timeline to complete the repairs within two weeks from the pipe burst on December 30.
The exact cause of the pipe burst is still under investigation, with Thompson stating that efforts are ongoing to determine the root cause behind the incident.
Comparing images of the current break to a previous one in 2024, Thompson described the current break as clean and resembling a zipper-like opening in the pipe, unlike the earlier incident.
Water consumption exceeded the target goal on Friday, with 493 million liters used, prompting the Calgary Emergency Management Agency chief, Sue Henry, to urge residents to reduce water usage to preserve water storage during the repair process.
A boil-water advisory remains in effect for parts of Point McKay, Parkdale, Montgomery, and West Hillhurst communities.
Mayor Jeromy Farkas expressed openness to discussions with Premier Danielle Smith regarding her proposal for provincial oversight of the city’s water system. Farkas also highlighted the importance of increased provincial funding, with the expectation of greater accountability in fund allocation.
Acknowledging past infrastructure challenges, Farkas emphasized the need for accountability among city councils, including the current administration, in addressing such issues.
