Calgary water shortage and feedermain break update

City officials will be updating Calgarians on the latest with the water shortage Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m.

Updates can be found live on the City of Calgary website at 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The city said Friday that water restrictions could last for three to five more weeks after scanning the broken feedermain and finding five additional locations that need attention, saying it could lead to another break if they aren’t dealt with properly.

The later timeline for repairs means the water emergency could extend through the Calgary Stampede. CEMA Chief Sue Henry said it’s too early to determine what the new developments will mean for restrictions on the 10-day event that kicks off on July 5.

Saturday’s update comes as water consumption in Calgary continues to climb.

“If our water usage continues to trend up and our water supply can’t keep up, the taps will run dry at some point,” Mayor Jyoti Gondek said Friday before officials updated the need for further repairs. “We are facing an urgent crisis.”

Gondek explained water usage has been trending upward since last Saturday. Earlier in the week ago, Calgary surpassed the sustainable water threshold of 480 million litres, and on Thursday, that threshold was exceeded.

Stage 4 outdoor watering restrictions are still in place, and so is a fire ban. Gondek said Friday no indoor water restrictions are planned at this time.

More to come

Listen to CityNews 660 for up-to-date coverage.

With files from Lauryn Heintz and Michael Ranger

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