Calgary Water Main Break - Boil-Water Advisory in Effect

 

Calgary Water Main Break

          Stay updated on the latest news regarding the Calgary water main break and the boil-water advisory in effect. Get insights on repair efforts, track the incident on the Calgary water main break map, and understand the City of Calgary's response.

          Discover the latest updates on the Calgary water main break and how the City of Calgary is addressing the situation. From understanding the factors influencing repair times to emphasizing emergency preparedness, this blog provides essential insights for residents. Stay informed about the boil-water advisory in effect, track the incident on the Calgary water main break map, and learn when to contact authorities.

Calgary crews are diligently scouring for the source of a "catastrophic" rupture in a feeder water main, which has plunged the city's water supply into a critical state.

The sizable water main, spanning up to two meters in width in some sections, suffered a break on Wednesday night, rendering hundreds of homes and businesses in the city's northwest without water.

In a Thursday afternoon update, the city reiterated that Calgary remains under Stage 4 water restrictions, necessitating mandatory outdoor water restrictions.

Officials emphasized the importance of continuing efforts to reduce indoor water consumption, including delaying dishwashers, washing machines, limiting showers, and maintaining shallow baths.

Mayor Jyoti Gondek expressed gratitude to Calgarians for their water conservation efforts, noting a decrease in water usage. She urged residents to persist in their conservation efforts.

While a boil-water advisory remains in place for Bowness, water in other communities is deemed safe for consumption.

City crews are tirelessly working to pinpoint the location of the break in the 11-kilometer-long water main, installed in 1975.

Nancy Mackay, the city's director of water services, described the break as "catastrophic," noting that repair crews are formulating a plan. Once the break is located, they will assess its size and determine necessary replacements.

This City of Calgary map shows the main feeder line, indicated in red, running through the neighbourhoods of Montgomery and Bowness. The city says it was a main feeder line in the area that burst Wednesday night.read more

Feeder mains play a crucial role in transporting potable water from the city's treated water reservoirs to the network of water mains distributing water throughout Calgary and its surrounding areas.

In this instance, the impacted water main is identified as the Bearspaw South Feeder Main, deemed by Mackay as the "most critical" component of Calgary's water infrastructure. This feeder main facilitates the movement of water to the eastern and southern parts of the city, diverging from the primary water treatment plant located in north Calgary.

Expressing cautious optimism, Mayor Gondek suggested that prompt removal of water from the site could potentially expedite the identification of the underlying issue within the next day or two. However, the timeline for repairs remains uncertain pending further assessment.

In the early hours of Thursday morning, an Alberta Emergency Alert was issued, notifying Calgarians via mobile phones and local broadcast systems about the critical state of Calgary's water supply. The alert underscored the impact of the water main break along 16 Avenue N.W., emphasizing its effect on the city's ability to provide water to communities and ensure adequate resources for emergency fire suppression.

During a press briefing at the city's Emergency Operations Centre, Sue Henry, chief of the Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA), emphasized the severity of the water main break, characterizing it as a "critical situation."

A major water main break in northwest Calgary has left the city's water supply situation in a critical state, officials say.read more

At the morning press conference, Gondek said the provincial government is being kept apprised and is working with the city to navigate the ongoing situation.

Water wagons set up :

In the aftermath of a substantial water main break, the Trans-Canada Highway remains shut down eastbound from Sarcee Trail to Home Road N.W., and westbound from Home Road to 49 Street N.W. The city's website indicates that this closure will persist until Monday morning.

Shouldice Athletic Park along Home Road N.W. was flooded due to the break.

 

Despite the scale of this water main break, Mayor Gondek confirmed that no businesses were flooded. However, Shouldice Athletic Park's baseball diamonds were submerged, although remedial actions are underway.

Sue Henry, chief of the Calgary Emergency Management Agency, disclosed that the cause of the water main break remains unknown as of Thursday morning.

This incident has also impacted water pressure in various areas, including Parkdale, West Hillhurst, Hillhurst, and Scarboro.

The city has activated its Municipal Emergency Plan, with no clear estimate on the duration of the boil-water advisory or water restrictions.

Sue Henry, chief of the Calgary Emergency Management Agency, said the cause of the water main break was still unknown as of Thursday morning.  read more

In the wake of this water main break, several roads and intersections around Bowness and Montgomery have been closed. A boil-water advisory is in place for Bowness residents and businesses, requiring water to be brought to a rolling boil for at least one minute before consumption.

Seven schools under the Calgary Board of Education have been affected, with water shut off at various sites. Additionally, water wagons have been deployed to various locations to assist with water supply.

The water supply alert extends to nearby communities on Calgary's water supply system, including Airdrie, Strathmore, and Chestermere, all under a mandatory outdoor water-usage ban.

Furthermore, all city-operated aquatic and fitness facilities are closed, along with most municipal arenas. The YMCA has also suspended access to its pools and arenas.

Due to restricted water use, a citywide fire ban remains in effect, including in Calgary parks.

water-main-break-affects-residents-in-west-el-paso

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Many residents affected :

Ross Sisson, proprietor of a hi-fi shop in Bowness and resident of Montgomery, recounted his difficulty navigating between the two locales on Wednesday night due to road closures prompted by the water main break.

He noted experiencing low water pressure at his residence on Wednesday evening, which seemed to normalize by Thursday. Nevertheless, he remained vigilant, following the city's recommendation to boil water.

While the water main break didn't directly impact his business, Sisson observed several nearby restaurants closing on Wednesday night.

Describing the torrent of water unleashed by the broken main as "unbelievable," Sisson humorously shared anecdotes of inquiries about renting a kayak from concerned acquaintances.

Fortunately, Sisson's property remained unaffected by flooding. However, he expressed apprehensions regarding the deteriorating infrastructure in the area.

A boil water advisory was issued for Bowness following a major water main break in northwest Calgary on Wednesday night.

"The infrastructure down here is very old," he remarked. "They keep repairing and not replacing. And considering the amount of taxes they're charging, they should prioritize fixing it up."

John Franzky, a partner at Bow Cycle & Sports in Bowness, recounted learning about the water main break through a colleague's text message the previous night.

He pledged his business's commitment to assist by conserving water usage.

"I think everybody should just be respectful and patient for a couple of days and see how things progress," Franzky suggested.

While acknowledging that the current situation isn't as severe as the floods of 2013, he emphasized the significant impact of the water release.

"This isn't your typical small water main break on a random cul-de-sac," he stated. "We're dealing with serious infrastructure issues here. I'm genuinely curious, how do you go about fixing something like this?"

A number of roads in northwest Calgary are closed because of a water main break in the area
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