Preliminary results show no new hotspots have been found along the remaining 300 metres of a major feeder main that broke in Calgary almost two weeks ago, emergency officials said Sunday.
Mayor Jyoti Gondek was joined at Sunday’s update by Calgary Emergency Management Agency chief Susan Henry, City of Calgary Capital Priorities and Investments director Francois Bouchart and City of Calgary Natural Environment and Adaptation manager Nicole Newton.
Bouchart said crews are developing an inspection plan for the rest of the feeder main.
“I can now confirm that we’ve concluded the inspection on the remaining 300 metres of pipe (and) the preliminary results indicate no new hotspots have been identified,” he told reporters Saturday.
“The work continues to repair that break and significant progress has been made. Yesterday, our crews finished protecting the new segment of pipe from corrosion (and) the final inspection of the pipe was completed.”
As announced Friday, he said an investigation of the critical water feeder main break identified five additional hotspots that need to be addressed to repair the pipe.
While crews are working around the clock to finish this work and restore regular water operation, Bouchart said estimates shared on Friday still hold at three to five weeks before repairs are complete.
“We’ve reached out to municipalities and water utilities across North America to secure the parts and pipes needed for these additional repairs,” he said, noting parts are arriving from areas as far away as San Diego, Calif.
He said repairing the damaged sections remains the city’s top priority, and crews are looking at ways to speed up repair work.
“Initial inspections and site prep work are already underway, and construction on those hotspots will start (Monday),” Bouchart said.
Speaking to reporters before Sunday afternoon’s update, Gondek said the city reached an all-time low in its water consumption on Saturday night, using just 438 million litres.
She said the city has “enough water stored to meet demand and also protect ourselves in case of any emergencies.”
On Sunday afternoon, Gondek said roundtables were held with industry partners and professionals from other sectors over the weekend to discuss ideas on fixing the water crisis.
More are expected to take place in the coming days, she said.
“This really has been an all-hands-on-deck approach,” Gondek told reporters Sunday afternoon.
“I want to thank the number of people who put up their hands and said, ‘We’d really like to come and talk with you about where we can be helpful.’”
Sunday’s update comes one day after officials declared a local state of emergency over the water supply crisis, triggered by what the city has described as a “catastrophic” water main break on June 5.
A massive feeder main, which carries water from the Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant, broke in the Montgomery neighbourhood of northwest Calgary. Officials have described the feeder main as a “critical” water line.
Henry applauded Calgarians for their low water consumption on Saturday.
“We will need to keep these efforts up for longer as we anticipate the current water restrictions will reign in effect for three to five weeks longer,” she said.
Henry encouraged Calgarians to continue sharing their ideas and solutions for reducing and reusing water.
Newton reminded residents to take active steps in reducing water consumption, such as flushing toilets fewer times, running dishwashers and laundry machines on full loads and turning off water softeners.
She said efforts are making a difference, but Calgarians must use less water.
Until the feeder main is fully operational, we need to use 25 per cent less water every day,” she said.
“Our collective efforts to do and will add up.”
Henry also thanked the City of San Diego for coming to the rescue by sending two pipe segments for the “critical” repairs.
“With that they sent a message of hope,” Henry said, standing beside a picture of the pipe on which San Diego County Water Authority crews wrote, “Good luck, Calgary” in spray paint.
“Thank you to the County of San Diego. We’re grateful you are in this fight with us and your message of support has up to uplifted a lot of people here in Calgary.”
To date, Henry said the city has received 6,214 calls related to the water feeder break, with 1,895 calls related to water misuse.
The majority of those calls have been resolved, she said. Enforcement officers have issued 537 written warnings and addressed 638 concerns through education.
The number of fire ban calls has amounted to 334, with 18 cases currently open.
As repairs continue, Henry said eastbound lanes of 16th Avenue, where the water main broke, will reopen at 11 p.m. on Sunday.
However, the city will close a section of 16th Avenue from 45th Street to 46th Street, as well as another section from 43rd Street to Bowness Road.
“This will add traffic congestion and you need to expect delays if you are moving through this area,” Henry said.
“However, these closures are a positive step in the right direction towards restoring the water service and we are moving quickly.”
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