World · North America · 8 hrs ago
Calgary water use stays below target as feeder main work advances
Calgary and nearby communities have kept water use below the city’s 500-million-litre daily target for five straight days.
Crews are preparing to connect an upgraded section of the Bearspaw South Feeder Main, after safely shutting down and draining the existing pipe.
Keeping demand low matters because construction limits how much water the system can move, and the city says it also helps preserve supplies for essential services and firefighting.
Starting Thursday, crews are expected to work around the clock at the 89th Street N.W. site, with the connection work expected to take about two weeks.
Water restrictions are expected to remain in place for at least another three-and-a-half weeks, but the city plans to bring the original pipe back online when the work is finished.
That will allow restrictions to be lifted while crews commission the new pipe, with a transition to it planned for mid-December.
The Bearspaw plant currently supplies about 20 per cent of Calgary’s daily water, and the city’s next construction update is expected Thursday, Nov.
12.
Calgary and neighbouring communities recorded five consecutive days of water use below the city’s target of 500 million litres a day.
Crews are preparing to connect the upgraded Bearspaw South Feeder Main, with excavation underway at some connection sites.
The city says water use must remain low because construction limits how much water can move through the system.
Restrictions are expected to remain in place for at least another three-and-a-half weeks while connection work is completed.
Crews are expected to work around the clock at the 89th Street N.W. site starting Thursday, with the connection work expected to take about two weeks.
- Who
- Calgary and neighbouring communities are keeping water use below the city’s target as crews work on the feeder main.
- What
- Crews are preparing to connect the upgraded Bearspaw South Feeder Main. Water restrictions remain in place.
- When
- The update was published November 9, 2026. Work at the 89th Street N.W. site is expected to start Thursday and take about two weeks.
- Where
- Calgary, including the 89th Street N.W. site and Parkdale Boulevard.
- Why
- Construction limits how much water can move through the system, and lower demand helps maintain supply for essential services and firefighting.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Crews safely shut down and drained the existing Bearspaw South Feeder Main.
Crews prepared three sites along the feeder-main route.
The city said draining was on track to finish that day and excavation had begun at some connection sites.
Crews are expected to begin round-the-clock work at the 89th Street N.W. site.
The connection work at the 89th Street N.W. site is expected to be completed.
The city expects to transition to the new pipe after commissioning it.
- Water-use target
- 500 million litres a day
- Friday water use
- 482 million litres
- Saturday water use
- 483 million litres
- Sunday water use
- 487 million litres
- Connection work
- Expected to take about two weeks
- Treatment plant supply
- Bearspaw supplies about 20 per cent; Glenmore supplies the remaining 80 per cent
What people are saying
What will happen once we’re done this work is we will turn on the original Bearspaw South Feeder Main again, we’ll pull ourselves out of restrictions
Use that pipe to flow water while we commission the new pipe, and then mid-December we’ll transition over to that new pipe.