Robot analysis has shown that there are five “hotspots” that require repair on Calgary’s largest feeder main before the line can be put back into service.

Further, the multiple steel wire breaks weakened the pipe, likely leading to the “catastrophic failure” of the Bowness location, according to the City of Calgary.

That was the latest information provided during Friday’s late afternoon update on the repairs and the water situation.  The City had hoped to have the current feeder main break fixed and back in service by next week, however, these repairs will extend that four fold.

“While this will delay the length of time for repair and restoration of water service, and I know that means asking all of us to keep our water use lower than usual, it also means that we have identified potential issues that could have led to another unexpected break,” said Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek.

Earlier in the day, Mayor Gondek pleaded with Calgarians to be more responsible with water. She said water consumption was at the threshold of being able to provide a critical supply for such things as firefighting and for health care.

Francois Bouchart, director of Capital Priorities and Investment, said the pipe segment is constructed in 16-foot sections, with steel wire wrapped 350 times around the pipe.

“This wire provides important structural stability for the pipe to help it manage high water pressures,” said Bouchart.

“As the pipe ages, it’s normal for some of the wires to break without compromising the integrity of the pipe. However, it becomes problematic as the number of breaks increases.”

The multiple breaks have been determined to be a contributing factor in the Bowness break.

“When these wires break in multiple places, it weakens the pipe and can lead to a catastrophic failure, as we are experiencing,” he said.

Bouchart said the additional five breaks are southeast of the current break but before the Shaganappi pump station.

The repairs will include full pipe replacements and the external reinforcement of pipe segments. Bouchart said their assessment showed that the hot spots couldn’t safely withstand the pressure they have to run through the feeder main. If they did, it would risk another catastrophic break, he said.

“The risk is simply too high. We need to act immediately to ensure long-term sustainability,” he said.

Bouchart said they are also inspecting an additional 300 metres once it’s drained. They’re also working with partners across North America to quickly get the parts they need for the repairs.

What this means for water supply

It’s expected that the repairs could take several weeks to complete, and it will require ongoing water restrictions in Calgary.  They are hoping to do all the repairs concurrently and they are bringing in additional contractors to help get the work done.

“We know that the pipe is not safe to bring into service without these repairs,” said Calgary Emergency Management Agency Chief Sue Henry.

“Our only choice is to stay the course with our current water restrictions for three to five weeks longer, and do these critical repairs now. We need to double down and get this job done. We are looking at strategies to do these repairs simultaneously, and exploring everything we can do to do this faster, and we hope to revise this timeline.”

Chief Henry also said that they are taking steps to ensure that the Glenmore water treatment plant, the only one producing water for the City of Calgary and the surrounding area, has additional parts and has round-the-clock servicing in case of any issues. She said they want to “bubble wrap” the Glenmore water treatment plant to keep it as safe as possible.

With the repairs on the main feeder line, Calgarians will notice the additional crews and additional prep work. That’s going to result in additional traffic issues, Henry said.

Water services director Nancy Mackay said they’ve reached out to major water users in Calgary, particularly those businesses that use a lot of water, and asked them to make changes to their operations to reduce their water use further.

She said they can shut water off to different businesses if they aren’t complying with those requests. Chief Henry also said that if education doesn’t work to help businesses to reduce water, they will be more directly addressing it in the coming days.

All of the City of Calgary officials thanked Calgarians for the sacrifices they’ve made up to this point with the water conservation. Those efforts have to be doubled, they said.

“I know it’s hard, and I know you’ve already given up a lot, and the thought of three to five more weeks is almost unbearable,” Henry said.

“Please know we’re thinking about how this will impact all of us, but we cannot take chances where life safety is concerned.”

The water main repairs could impact the Calgary Stampede, which goes from July 5 to 14.

The Calgary Stampede is drafting contingency plans at the Emergency Operations Centre, according to the City of Calgary. The Calgary Stampede said they’d just learned of the new information as well.

“We will continue to work with our partners at the City of Calgary and the Calgary Emergency Management Agency as this situation evolves,” read an emailed statement from Stampede officials.