Decision coming on possible downgrade of Calgary water restrictions

An update is expected Monday morning on Calgary’s water situation, including a possible downgrading of restrictions that could allow increased sprinkler use.

Mayor Jyoti Gondek and General Manager of Infrastructure Services Michael Thompson will speak to media and the public at 8:30 a.m. 

CityNews660 will have live coverage of the event and what it means for Calgarians.

Calgary moved to Stage 2 water restrictions on Thursday, which allowed for the use of sprinklers, soaker hoses, or in-ground sprinkler systems up to one hour a week on specific days.

Officials have also been teasing a possible move to Stage 1 restrictions over the last week. This would allow use of sprinklers, soaker hoses, or in-ground sprinkler systems up to two hours a week on specific days; even house numbers can water on Wednesdays or Saturdays, and odd house numbers can water on Thursdays or Sundays.

Since the move to Stage 2, the city has reported more snaps along the pipe, bringing the total to five.

“This snap does not mean that another break in the critical feeder main is imminent,” said Nancy MacKay, the city’s water services director.

“However, it does mean that our continued monitoring remains important as we continue to ease water restrictions and consider increasing flow of water in that feeder main.”

Crews have also been busy finishing repairs on another water break in Montgomery that happened on Friday, just one block away from the original June 5 rupture.

The city says the recent break was not directly related to the Bearspaw South Feeder Main, and was on a smaller, 10-inch cast iron pipe nearby.

-With files from Alejandro Melgar

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