Nearly one month after Calgary’s water supply crisis began, the city’s mayor announced “much needed good news” on Tuesday, telling citizens they could resume normal water usage indoors but pleaded with them to “ease” into that usage.
“(Today) is a very big day,” Jyoti Gondek said at a news conference also attended by Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver and Michael Thompson, the City of Calgary’s general manager of infrastructure services. “We are one giant step closer to restoring full water usage to all of you.”
While the city had never restricted indoor water use, officials have pleaded with Calgarians for weeks to conserve water indoors so that the city’s supply does not run out.
A water supply alert for Calgary, Airdrie, Chestermere and Strathmore was lifted at 3:31 p.m. on Tuesday.
However, restrictions on outdoor water use and a fire ban remain in effect.
Gondek said Calgarians are able to return to normal indoor water consumption because the Bearspaw feeder main that was catastrophically damaged on June 5 is now operating at 50 per cent capacity.
She noted testing and monitoring are ongoing.
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“The reductions you have been doing at home are not needed anymore, so you can return to using water inside your home the way that you were used to,” Gondek told reporters.
“We’re asking people (to) ease into this though, so we can continue to make sure that we’ve got enough water supply for everyone.”
McIver noted that Calgarians should remember “we’re not completely out of the woods yet,” even if Tuesday’s announcement offered a “bit of relief.”
The crisis also prompted restrictions on water use for a number of nearby municipalities that also rely on Calgary’s water supply.
Gondek was asked by reporters for clarity on whether the announcement meant Calgarians could resume regular indoor water use. She said they could but that she hopes Calgarians will continue to conserve water indoors by reducing their number of dish loads and laundry loads until water service returns to normal.
Thompson described Tuesday’s announcement as an “exciting milestone” but added that the city needs “Calgarians to ease into their water use within their homes.”
“We need Calgarians’ support to avoid putting too much strain on the system,” he said.
The announcement came just a few days before Friday’s start of the Calgary Stampede, an annual event that draws large numbers of tourists to the city.
When asked if she was concerned about large numbers of tourists overwhelming Calgary’s water system, Gondek said that data shows water usage generally goes up in the city in July, “but not necessarily” when the Stampede is on.
She added that many Calgarians tend to leave the city and go on vacation during Stampede. She added that tourists will be told it will be appreciated if they can take steps to conserve water while in Calgary.
Gondek noted that a state of local emergency remains in effect and there is no timeline for when outdoor water restrictions may be lifted.
McIver noted that the crisis has been “an unexpected expense,” one he expects to be “a large one,” and said he anticipates the city will reach out to the province to discuss the financial cost associated with the crisis.
On Tuesday afternoon, Gondek held a second news conference to talk about the current water situation and was joined by Sue Henry, the chief of the Calgary Emergency Management Agency, and Francois Bouchart, the city’s director of capital priorities and investment.
“I share my excitement,” Henry said about Calgarians no longer being asked to conserve water indoors. However, she noted that Calgarians should continue to limit showers, the flushing of toilets and other uses of indoor water.
Henry said officials do not want to the city to “overwork the system.”
She said the city aims to lift outdoor water restrictions “when we are confident the system is ready,” and said most of the city’s indoor pools will open on Wednesday.
The northwest water main break last month saw restrictions on outdoor water use be put in place as the city was concerned that demand could exceed supply until repairs were made to get the water system back to normal service.
The repair work became a larger task than first anticipated when five more weak spots in the pipeline were discovered.
Crews are beginning to pressurize the repaired water main following several days of tests and checks.
On Monday, Gondek said the water tested by Alberta Health Services following flushing of the repairs exceeded quality guidelines.
However, she warned that the pressurization step involves risk, so crews will proceed slowly.
On Tuesday, Gondek said turbidity levels in the city’s water supply are going down and are trending in the right direction.
Bouchart added that even if water appears cloudy, it is safe to drink.
Plans for an independent review looking into what caused June’s massive water main break are set to be discussed by the City of Calgary’s infrastructure and planning committee at city hall on Wednesday morning.
While the cause of the water main break has yet to be determined, McIver said the rupture should serve as a reminder to lawmakers about the importance of water infrastructure.
“This was a surprise to everybody when this happened,” he said. “The pipe that was supposed to last 100 years lasted 50.”
–With files from The Canadian Press’ Fakiha Baig