Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): The City of Calgary has lifted all water-use restrictions with immediate effect after tests on a ruptured and recently repaired water main were completed successfully, city officials confirmed.
Mayor Jeromy Farkas welcomed the development, calling it a positive day for Calgary, while cautioning that significant work still lies ahead. He noted that although the repaired section is now functioning properly, the entire feeder main will need to be replaced to prevent future disruptions.
For more than two weeks, Calgary’s 1.6 million residents, along with those in surrounding municipalities, had been urged to conserve water. The measures included reducing shower times, limiting toilet flushes, and cutting down on laundry and dishwashing. The city also imposed restrictions on water usage at public facilities such as swimming pools and ice rinks.
The restrictions were introduced after the Bearspaw South Feeder Main — which supplies around 60 per cent of Calgary’s treated water — ruptured in late December. The incident marked the second failure of the same pipeline in less than two years, raising concerns about the reliability of the city’s aging water infrastructure.
With the immediate crisis now resolved, city officials have indicated that long-term solutions will be prioritised to avoid similar emergencies in the future.
