Work on the Bearspaw South feeder main is on track and could be completed sometime next week, should all go as planned.

City officials provided an update on the Bearspaw repairs on Thursday afternoon, outlining final work scheduled for next week.

Infrastructure Service GM Michael Thompson said that they’d successfully backfilled the nine concrete-reinforced areas and are getting ready to re-pave the roads above the pipe. Beginning Friday, they will slowly refill the repaired pipe.

“This will take about 22 million liters of water over two to three days,” Thompson said.  

“The water used to refill the pipe will come from the Bearspaw water treatment plant. Our overall water demand will appear higher on the next few days. This is not a concern, as it is not placing additional demand on the Glenmore water treatment plant.”

Thompson said that they will slowly and deliberately fill the patched-up Bearspaw South feeder main to minimize spikes in pressure. They will be monitoring it for any signs of problems with the pipe.

After that, it’s a matter of collecting water samples to ensure the water quality is up to par with health authorities. In the past, this process has taken between one and two days – barring any water quality issues.

Thompson didn’t want to commit to an early end to water restrictions but said that everything is on schedule for work to be completed within the initially prescribed four-week window.

He said the sections of pipe they’ve repaired are the ones they’re most confident in moving forward.

“Now it’s the remainder of the pipe that we know has issues and that we have to live with until we have that replacement pipe constructed and operational in December of this year, and so what we’ll be doing is watching and listening to the pipe. We’ll be listening for wire snaps,” he said.  

“We’ll be watching for pipe spikes in pressure in the water as we’re refilling the pipe and as we’re bringing it back into service, and then also the water quality testing.”

Thompson did note there was an issue with the valve repair at the Shaganappi pump station that pushed water into another section of the pipe. That has since been fixed, he said.

Not out of the woods yet

Calgary and area water users rallied again on Wednesday, using only 483 million litres of water, according to Thompson.

He credited the fact that Calgarians already have experience dealing with the water issues, and they know what to do. He said that Calgarians are taking the simple steps needed to reduce water use.

“I really appreciate the team at the city working to get the message out, using a number of new tactics to get the message out to everyone here for helping get the message out, and for Calgarians in the communities to talk to your neighbors, your family, your friends, your co-workers, just about the need to reduce your water use during this period,” he said.

But, there is still work to do, and no guarantee Calgary will go break free on the Bearspaw South feeder main until a new pipe is in place.

“We’re getting close, but we are not out of the woods yet,” Thompson said.

“Over the next few days, we will be moving ahead in a measured, deliberate way, with a focus on stability and safety as we work to start flowing water through the pipe. Your continued actions to reduce water use are what allow us to move forward safely.”

Mayor Jeromy Farkas also commended regional water users for sticking with the water conservation, as difficult as it’s been over the past three weeks.

“Friends, we are almost there,” Farkas said.

“So, thank you to everyone who has stepped up throughout this planned shutdown. We’ve asked people to be water heroes, and every single Calgarian has proved that they are all water heroes.”