With added capacity now online and water use remaining near the ideal threshold, the City of Calgary has relaxed outdoor water restrictions.

Mayor Jyoti Gondek and Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) Chief Sue Henry delivered the news at a Saturday morning briefing, also noting that Calgary has deactivated its municipal emergency plan and will stand down the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC).  

That means Calgary will back out of Stage 4 watering restrictions into Stage 3. This means that you can use potable water for the hand watering of plants with a watering can or container.  Outdoor water use with a hose or sprinkler is still not allowed.

Water can also be used by businesses needing it for construction purposes. Along with that, the City of Calgary is closing the non-potable water use for residents only. It will remain open for commercial use, said CEMA Chief Sue Henry.

 “With more capacity flowing and the added capacity coming from the Glenmore water treatment plant now that maintenance has been done, I’m pleased to share with you today that the city took another big step forward in its recovery from the Bearspaw South water feeder main break,” said Chief Henry.  

“We are now able to move Calgarians from stage four water restrictions to stage three, beginning today.”

Mayor Gondek said that 492 million litres of water were consumed on Friday, with the Bearspaw feeder main boosted to 55 per cent capacity.  Those factors, combined with the Glenmore maintenance, allowed officials to decide to slightly relax outdoor water restrictions.

The mayor said they met with water officials last night, not knowing specifically until this morning if they’d be able to take this action.

“At that time this the team was still determining what an easing of restrictions could look like, because they had to track our water demand against our supply,” the mayor said.  

“So, they were preparing to tell you that either restrictions would have to remain, or they could be eased, but it was going to be based on information that wasn’t coming until this morning.”

PipeDiver hits a snag

Francois Bouchart, director of capital priorities and investment, said that the PipeDiverr inspection took longer than expected. That’s the diving tool that provided an electromagnetic view of the interior of the pipe. 

It had gotten temporarily hung up, but now the 11-kilometre Bearspaw feeder main has been fully inspected, Bouchart said, and the diver would be removed later today.

“We expect to receive results in three to four weeks, after assessing the results, we’ll be using this data to inform if there’s further investigation or repair work needed,” Bouchart said.

Bouchart said that upon receiving those results, there may be additional spots that need repair or replacement. He said, however, that was premature to assume that’s what they’d have to do without seeing the inspection.

Along with the relaxed water restrictions, the Calgary Fire Department, through CEMA, has given the go-ahead to remove the fire ban that had been in place since mid-June.  Calgarians can safely use propane and natural gas fire pits, open fires and solid fuel like briquettes. 

Construction hot works that had been limited due to the water situation are now allowed to go ahead.

“As always, please practice responsible fire safety. Maintain control over your fire pits and ensure they are fully extinguished when you are ready to leave them,” said Chief Henry.

City of Calgary spray parks will be back online as of 1 p.m. Sunday. Chief Henry said they were given a relaxation due to the upcoming heat and the need for Calgarians to find places to cool down.

Moving from Stage 3 to Stage 2 will take some additional time, Bouchart said.

“This progress relies on our ability to gradually increase supply to our system without compromising the pipe,” he said.  

“It is important to note some level of outdoor water restrictions will likely be in place for some time yet we are unable to confirm the time frame until we progress further.”

The City said it would continue to provide updates as needed in the coming days.