Calgary’s water supply remains precarious as crews work tirelessly to repair a major water main break. Mayor Jyoti Gondek addressed the community today, urging residents to continue their water conservation efforts to ensure the city can meet essential needs and maintain emergency reserves.
Mayor Gondek commended the community for their cooperation and resilience. “The way you looked after each other was commendable,” she said, specifically thanking the Boness Community Association and their team for their dedication during this critical time.
Despite the progress, Mayor Gondek stressed that water restrictions remain in effect. The primary feeder main has not yet been fully repaired, necessitating ongoing conservation measures. “We are still under water restrictions,” she emphasized. “The feeder main has not been repaired yet, so you and I need to make sure that we’re not using any outdoor water. Inside our homes, we need to stick with limiting shower times, toilet flushes, and dishwasher and laundry loads.”
The city has been successful in keeping water consumption below the critical threshold of 480 million liters per day, with preliminary figures showing usage at 472 million liters yesterday. However, the mayor cautioned against complacency. “I’m confident that we can continue to reduce our water usage today and into the weekend,” she added.
Crews have been working around the clock to repair the damaged feeder main. “Crews have now removed a few sections of the damaged pipe as part of their work,” Mayor Gondek reported. The repair process includes using advanced technology, such as a robot equipped with state-of-the-art sensors to inspect the pipe internally. This technology is providing critical information to ensure the safety and efficiency of the repairs.
In addition to the main break, a smaller water main break in Boness has impacted 21 households. Mayor Gondek acknowledged the additional strain on the community but reassured that repairs are underway and that the incidents are separate.
She provided practical tips for residents to further conserve water, such as keeping a jug of water in the fridge to avoid running the tap for cold water and using a bucket to collect water while waiting for showers to heat up.
The mayor also addressed the economic impact on local businesses, especially in Boness and Montgomery, urging residents to support these areas. “With Father’s Day coming up, I think it’s really important that you think about where you might go shopping to get Dad a gift,” she said, encouraging people to dine out in these communities.
For more information and ongoing updates, residents are encouraged to visit the City of Calgary’s official website and follow their social media feeds.