The weather is warming up, and spring is coming up this weekend, but the City of Calgary wants you to hold off on increasing your water use.

After a one-day dip back into the green, water use in Calgary and area jumped back up into the risky red area, but just barely, hitting 501 million litres on Wednesday.

“Let’s chalk this up to a St. Patrick’s Day hangover,” quipped Infrastructure Services GM Michael Thompson.

“We still have over two weeks to go before the feeder main is back in service, and we know next week is spring break for a lot of households. We ask everyone to continue with your water saving, especially as your household routines might change next week.”

Thompson said they’re still asking people to continue to try and save 25 litres per person a day, reiterating the shorter showers, larger loads, fewer flushes mantra.

Nicole Newton, director of climate and environment with the City of Calgary’s, urged Calgarians to hold off on spring cleaning type activities until the repairs are done.

“The warmer days are coming up, and Calgarians are eager to start preparing for spring,” Newton said.

“Keep that demand below 500 million litres, and once we get that pipe back in service, looking forward to our yards getting green again.”

Newton said that if you need a window cleaning on the car, consider a squeegee instead of a car wash.  She also reminded Calgarians that the city’s rain barrel program starts on April 1.

Under Stage 4 water restrictions, Calgarians aren’t allowed to use water for outdoor activities, particularly outdoor watering or washing (of pavement).

Work continues in the Bowness area

Rebar work is complete on the final segments that are under repair, and concrete pours will continue for the remainder of the week, according to Thompson. Concrete curing is happening on the parts that are completed, and backfilling around pipes is happening on pipes where concrete curing is complete.

Replacement valves at the Shaganappi pump station are complete and that means the city can start refilling that part of the feeder main. That’s one of three sections that need to be refilled, Thompson said.

“We are not out of the woods yet,” he said.

“This is a step forward for our project, but refilling of the other two sections will not begin until reinforcement work is complete and the exposed segments have been backfilled.”

Thompson said micro-tunnelling work will also be done, with the final shaft being drilled in the area of 16 Avenue and 44 Street NW.

A single lane of traffic will remain open in both directions on March 24 and 25.

Thompson said the new steel pipe is on schedule.

Mayor Jeromy Farkas said that citizens were doing well in keeping their water use down, but there are still two weeks left, and they need the sustained effort to continue.

“I also know that because we’ve been doing such a good job, there is a temptation to ease off just a little bit, to maybe take that extra minute in the shower, maybe run the dishwasher, even if it’s not quite full,” he said.

“And listen, I’m Calgarian, just like you are. I get it. Like each and every one of you, I feel that too, but right now we need to refocus, because we are almost there.”

The mayor encouraged Calgarians to finish strong, keeping the water use number under 500 million litres for the next two weeks.