Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek says the city’s water distribution system will require further major repairs, requiring a temporary return to Stage 4 water restrictions later this month.
She made the announcement at a news conference Wednesday after seeing the results of the PipeDiver inspection in the Bearspaw feeder main. A PipeDiver is an electromagnetic and ultrasonic pipe inspection tool used to monitor large diameter water pipes.
Sixteen new hot spots were detected along the key feeder main, and planned maintenance will be carried out over the coming weeks. City officials say additional hot spots will likely be discovered as repair work gets underway.
Stage 4 outdoor water restrictions will return Aug. 26 as repairs begin. In the meantime, Stage 1 restrictions remain in effect.
Twelve wire snaps have been reported along the pipe since it was repaired and brought back into service. The city monitors the wire coils that wrap around the feeder main, which help strengthen it. While these snaps are not a sign that the pipe will break, officials say it is a way of assessing how much stress the pipe is under.
Calgary has been experiencing ongoing water supply issues that were triggered by a catastrophic failure in the Bearspaw south feeder main on June 5.
Under Stage 1 restrictions, the use of sprinklers and in-ground sprinkling systems are permitted for two hours per week.
Residents are allowed to water using those methods but must follow the city’s watering schedule — even number addresses are permitted to water on Wednesday or Saturday, and odd number addresses are allowed to water Thursday or Sunday.
Watering with sprinklers and in-ground systems is allowed between these hours, according to the city’s website:
- 4 a.m. to 7 a.m.
- 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Watering using a hose with a trigger nozzle is allowed at any time, according to the city.
Under existing Stage 1 outdoor water use restrictions, the following water-related activities remain prohibited:
- Washing driveways and sidewalks.
- Washing vehicles in the driveway or street.
- Washing windows or exterior building surfaces, unless it’s done by a business licensed to do so.
- Filling fountains and decorative water features. Bird baths, however, are allowed.