Water consumption in Calgary continues to climb, and Mayor Jyoti Gondek is out with a stark warning.
“If our water usage continues to trend up and our water supply can’t keep up, the taps will run dry at some point,” she said during her update Friday morning. “We are facing an urgent crisis.”
Gondek, who was joined by Airdrie Mayor Peter Brown and CAO David Duckworth, explained water usage has been trending upward since last Saturday.
Two days ago, Calgary surpassed the sustainable water threshold of 480 million litres, and on Thursday, that threshold was exceeded.
“While we reduced our usage slightly from the day before, we simply have to do more,” Gondek said. “We do not have access to the majority of our water supply until this feeder main can be restored to its full function and I am worried about our city and surrounding municipalities.”
The mayor reiterated calls to reduce showers and dishwasher and washing machine loads, and suggested Calgarians look to make meals that require less water, put a bucket in their shower to collect grey water, or skip a shave.
Stage 4 outdoor watering restrictions are still in place, and so is a fire ban.
Gondek says no indoor water restrictions are planned at this time.
The mayor also came to the defense of city services, saying operations such as golf course watering is taking place using recycled water.
Gondek says that is also the case for car washes that are still running.
Work on repairing the pipeline continued Thursday afternoon following the injury of two workers the day prior, which prompted an inspection by Occupational Health and Safety (OHS).
A timeline provided by the city earlier this week estimated the new pipe would be installed Thursday before it was flushed for three days and quality tested for two days.
Infrastructure manager Francois Bouchard estimates the injury to the workers will push back the timeline by a day or two.
The next update on the situation is expected at 2 p.m.
CityNews will have the latest on the situation as it develops. Listen for live updates here.