Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek announced on Tuesday that Calgary has officially moved down to Stage 1 outdoor water restrictions.
It comes after Calgary has been experiencing ongoing water supply issues that were triggered by a catastrophic failure in the Bearspaw south feeder main on June 5.
City officials delayed the move down from Stage 2 outdoor water restrictions on Monday, citing recent issues with intake pumps at both the Bearspaw and Glenmore water treatment plants.
On Tuesday afternoon, Gondek said those two pumps, along with some additional ventilation issues, have all been addressed, allowing for outdoor water restrictions to loosen further.
The mayor says the most significant change in the move to Stage 1 is for the use of sprinklers and in-ground sprinkling systems for longer periods.
Residents are now allowed to water using those methods for up to two hours per week, but still 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.
According to the city’s website, watering with sprinklers and in-ground systems is allowed between these hours:
- 4 a.m. to 7 a.m.
- 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
“Just like in Stage 2, you can use a hose with a trigger nozzle at any time,” said Gondek.
On Monday, Calgary — and the surrounding areas that rely on its supply — used 639 million litres of water, down from the 648 million litres used on Sunday.