‘Exceptional’ response after critical water main break in Calgary

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City officials have yet to determine the cause of a “catastrophic” water main break that unleashed a flood in northwest Calgary, cut access to residents in several neighbourhoods and lowered supply across the city to critical levels.

The break, which closed traffic access to 16th Avenue near Home Road N.W., has affected the entire city, from schools to city-operated recreational centres, triggering a boil-water order for Bowness residents and Stage 4 restrictions prohibiting all outdoor watering and urging all Calgarians to avoid showering, bathing, washing dishes or running any appliances that use water.

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The effects rippled beyond city limits, leading Chestermere, Airdrie and Strathmore to issue bans on outdoor water use and advisories suggesting voluntary indoor restrictions.

Thursday afternoon, city officials said crews were working around the clock to determine the cause of the break, which they described as “catastrophic.” The rupture occurred on a “critical transmission line that enables us to move water across the city,” the city said.

The feeder main is 11 kilometres long and two metres wide — big enough for a “truck to drive through,” Mayor Jyoti Gondek told reporters.

The city said it’s focusing on containing the problem and protecting public health in Bowness.

“Out of an abundance of caution, the boil-water order was issued for the affected areas, which we knew Bowness was one that had that low pressure, like yesterday evening,” Dr. Franco Rizzuti of Alberta Health Services said at the conference.

Officials didn’t give a timeline for repairs, adding the first step would be to identify the cause.

No estimated time of repair for broken water line

“It is a situation right now that is being carefully assessed,” Gondek said.

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“If we are being very, very optimistic and they can remove the water from the site and actually get in there and have a look at what’s going on, it is possible that within the next day to two days they can identify the problem and then it would take as long it takes to do the repair.”

“Currently, we’ve narrowed down the location of the break, and our crews are now digging the site and continue to take some water and debris out of the hole,” Nancy Mackay, the city’s director of water services,

Gondek applauded how Calgarians have responded to the crisis, calling their efforts “exceptional.”

She said she had spoken with Premier Danielle Smith on Thursday morning, adding the city is working with the province on emergency planning.

“The city has enacted its Municipal Emergency Plan and currently we do not have an estimate for how long the boil-water advisory or the water restrictions will be necessary,” the city said in a statement. “This issue is temporary, and our crews are working 24/7 to complete the necessary repair work.”

Water continued to leak as a result of the break until 10 a.m., according to observations from a Postmedia reporter at the scene.

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The Calgary Fire Department issued a citywide fire ban, saying it’s actively working on contingency plans in the case of emergencies during the water shortage.

Worries for vulnerable population in Bowness

“This is huge,” Ward 1 Coun. Sonya Sharp told Postmedia while standing outside the Bowness Community Centre, where the city’s emergency water supply was stationed.

Sharp and community members were reaching out to seniors and people with mobility issues who couldn’t travel to pick up water. She was also calling on Calgarians to bring water to the Bowness Community Association, adding that grocery stores in the neighbourhood were running out of bottled water.

“We all came together in the flood, but this is just as important — people need drinking water to live. Anything anyone can do in Calgary to support the community would be great,” Sharp said.

The strain on the water supply led to the closure of all city-operated aquatic and fitness facilities. Non-water-based registered and drop-in programs, including the weight room, were still available at Southland and Village Square leisure centres. However, the water parks, wave pools and showers were shut. Shower rooms in athletic parks were also closed.

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WinSport has also shut its rinks until the water restrictions are lifted.

Sweeping in communities, including Willow Park, Sandstone Valley, Taradale and Saddleridge was pushed to a later date, while fire hall bulk water stations were shuttered.

Meanwhile, the University of Calgary began conserving water on its main campus, according to a Thursday morning statement on its website, adding it will support water use for “essential functions only.”

Alberta Health Services said it still has adequate water supply at all its acute-care sites in Calgary. All patients continue to be cared for and operations proceed as usual.

“We have plans in place to manage situations like this, including implementation of several water conservation measures,” said AHS spokesman James Wood.

“We continue to work with our partners in government and with the municipalities to ensure patient safety and the well-being of all Calgarians.”

With files from Matt Scace, Mackenzie Rhode and Scott Strasser

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