Calgarians confront grim reality of extended water rationing

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The bottled water was fast disappearing from the northwest Walmart’s shelves but it wasn’t enough to quench the white-hot anger over the prospect of water restrictions dragging into July.

“It’s total incompetence — heads should roll,” said a woman pushing two 19-litre water bottles through the Royal Oak store.

“We’re a national embarrassment in this country, under no circumstances should this happen. We’re an (oil and gas) pipeline city.”

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The woman, who wouldn’t give her name, then offered a conspiracy theory. Luckily, other Calgarians were reacting differently.

As a Walmart employee wheeled more pallets of bottled water into the store’s entrance, a manager said racks holding dozens of 19-litre containers has to be refilled every hour.

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Others there questioned how city officials have communicated about the crisis and how they could have allowed such crucial infrastructure to fail.

Outside the store, Rob Gallant had nothing but bottled water in his shopping cart and suggested there’s “some hype” involved in the current water shortage.

“I can’t say I’m all that concerned but my wife said to get some water,” said Gallant.

People reporting their neighbours’ outdoor water use, he said, was deplorable but added people should do what they can to reduce consumption.

“People can be sensible, everybody has to be responsible, I agree with that,” he said.

To date, Calgary’s 311 call centre has received 5,724 calls related to broken water main, said Calgary Emergency Management Agency Chief Sue Henry at a Saturday afternoon media briefing.

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Of those, 1,794 calls were to report water misuse, of which only 139 cases remain active.

Meanwhile, 220 calls related to the fire ban imposed alongside water restrictions, with 18 cases open. she said.

‘What happened in 1975 when that pipe was put in the ground?’

It’s reasonable to question the city’s competence in how it’s been inspecting and maintaining feeder main lines whose failure has impacted the entire city, Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver said Saturday.

And, he said, “somebody’s got to ask the question of what happened in 1975 when that pipe was put in the ground,” adding anger over the situation “is a normal reaction.”

But McIver, a former Calgary city councillor, said the focus has to be on restoring normal water service.

“The time for placing blame is later, there will be plenty of time for investigations, wherever that leads,” he said.

And he said with the city’s freeze-and-thaw climate, those natural pressures on pipes “is likely something that will go on forever.”

For now, his ministry is in close contact with Mayor Jyoti Gondek’s office and the Calgary Emergency Management Agency to find ways to fast-track repairs city officials say could take three to five weeks to complete.

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“The first stop is figuring out how we can help — to see if the city has all the parts and labour and if they’re short, we’ll go through our networks,” said McIver.

“We probably deal with contractors that they don’t.”

Meanwhile, at the 12-bay Royal Oak Wash, as several motorists were hosing down their vehicles, one man was wiping down his black Volkswagen after its cleaning.

When asked why he was washing his car during a state of local emergency, he said “Why not?” and wouldn’t comment further.

But a man who identified himself as Jamal D. did, as he prepared to wand-wash his BMW SUV.

“I know it’s bad but I probably had more than three weeks since washing the car,” he said.

“When I drive around, I see everybody’s car is clean.”

Normally, the man said he’d spend $10 washing his vehicle but this time he’d do a basic cycle worth only $2.

And Jamal said he’s doing what he can at home to save water.

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“I haven’t been watering my lawn, I’m not watering my garden,” he said, adding he operates a landscaping company that uses water efficiently.

“We send excess water to planting beds.”

A few steps away, Ricardo Moreno had finished rinsing off his family’s French poodle-boxer Louie at the pet wash — a task the man said was undertaken only after he was certain it was abiding by city bylaws.

“I was very mindful … at home, we’re doing all the (water) savings we can — my grass is brown,” he said.

Car and pet washes aren’t restricted under the city’s emergency water measures because they’re indoors, and city officials say most of them use recycled water.

The car wash at one northwest Calgary Co-op service station has been shut since the water crisis began, said staff, who added it’s the same at all of its city locations.

7,000+ businesses asked to reduce water consumption

City officials say they’ve been in contact with more than 7,000 businesses, which make up 35 per cent of Calgary’s water use, on ways to reduce consumption.

“(On Friday), we asked car washes, dealerships and car repair shops to cease their water use for vehicle cleaning,” said Water Services Director Nancy Mackay.

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“I want to assure these businesses this is a temporary measure but a necessary one.”

A staffer at one northwest Vietnamese restaurant couldn’t say how they can significantly reduce their consumption of water, a staple that’s employed in many ways — from washrooms to cooking, cleaning and drinking.

An employee at the Royal Oak Ceili’s Irish Pub said it’s not easy for restaurants to meaningfully lower their water use, though he’s looking for ways to do just that.

“For sanitation purposes, you have to have running water … you do as much as you can but there’s only so much you can do and at the end of the day, the dishes have to be done,” said Jason Cipriani.

“I’ve been pouring water from guests’ cups into (patio) planters outside.”

On Saturday, Gondek urged Calgarians to engage in “laundry tourism” by washing their clothes outside of city limits.

Tourism Calgary, which represents the city’s hospitality industry, said travellers should still be welcomed to the city to support a sector that’s doing its part to reduce water consumption.

“Our hotel, restaurant and attractions partners are actively engaged in water conservation efforts while continuing to welcome visitors to our city and support the 1,000-plus local businesses that rely on the visitor economy,” said a statement from the agency.

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“For those visitors travelling to Calgary, we thank you for your understanding and support of local businesses … during this challenging time.”

And the Calgary Chamber of Commerce urged the city to work with businesses to avoid tougher restrictions on them and to ensure the Calgary Stampede goes ahead with minimal disruption.

“Generating $540 million in economic impact, the Stampede is a critical time for businesses across several sectors, and any interruptions could have substantial economic repercussions,” Chamber president Deborah Yedlin said in a statement Saturday.

BKaufmann@postmedia.com

X (Twitter) @BillKaufmannjrn

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