Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek addressed Calgary residents with crucial updates, announcing the availability of untreated water at designated city sites and providing progress reports on the critical water main repairs.
Gondek announced that the City of Calgary has set up two locations where citizens can access non-potable, untreated water. These sites, located at Baker Park and the Ogden boat launch, offer a temporary solution to meet the water needs for gardens and plants.
“We are now set up to provide you with non-potable or untreated water through two City Sites,” said Gondek. “If you need to access this, they will be at Baker Park and the Ogden boat launch.”
Gondek emphasized that the water is untreated river water, making it unsafe for drinking. She urged residents to only take what they need and to use it strictly for gardening purposes. “This is a temporary fix and it’s not intended for large-scale water collection but just as a short-term solution,” she noted.
The mayor also provided an update on the ongoing repairs to the city’s water main system, which has significantly impacted local businesses and residents. The current focus of the repair work is on welding the necessary adapters to connect a new steel section of pipe to the existing infrastructure.
“The work that’s being done right now is focused mainly on welding,” Gondek explained. “Crews are out there welding the adapters that are going to be needed to attach the new steel section of pipe to the existing pipe.”
According to Gondek, the repairs are progressing well and are on track for completion by July 5. In the meantime, she urged residents to continue their water conservation efforts. “We need to keep saving water for just under two more weeks,” she said, acknowledging the residents’ remarkable ability to reduce water consumption by 25%.
The water crisis has had a pronounced impact on local businesses, particularly in the Montgomery area. Gondek shared her recent visit to Montgomery, where she spoke with business owners struggling with reduced sales.
“I had the chance to catch up with some businesses that have been hit hard over the last couple of weeks,” she said. “A lot of these folks have noticed that they’ve got the lowest sales numbers they’ve seen in a very, very long time.”
She encouraged residents to support these businesses during this challenging period. “If you are driving by the area on a detour or you’re looking for something to do on this sunny Sunday, I would really encourage you to consider stopping by some of the shops and restaurants and cafes in Montgomery,” Gondek urged.
As the city works to resolve the water crisis, Gondek praised the community’s water-saving measures and provided tips for ongoing conservation. She suggested that residents track their water usage by comparing utility bills from May and June to see the impact of their conservation efforts.
“Look out for your utility bills for the month of May,” she advised. “Jot it down somewhere and then when your bill comes in for the June billing cycle, you’ll be able to compare what you used in May versus what you used in June. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at what you were able to accomplish.”
Gondek highlighted the importance of individual efforts in ensuring a safe water supply during this emergency. “Everything that you’re doing to conserve water matters,” she said. “It matters that you all care about your part in this, and it matters that you understand the ways in which you can save water right now.”
The mayor concluded her address with an announcement about a detailed update to be provided at 2 p.m. at the Emergency Operations Center, where more information on the repair work and the status of critical areas will be shared.
“At 2 p.m. at the Emergency Operations Center, we’ll get a little bit more detail about the repair work that’s being done,” she said. “We’ll be able to find out a little bit more about what crews are seeing on those sites of the five hotspots.”
As Calgary navigates through this challenging period, the city’s leadership remains committed to providing timely updates and solutions to ensure the well-being of its residents and businesses.