Calgary lost nearly a quarter of its treated water in 2025, according to a report set to be presented to a city council committee next week. The loss is attributed to aging infrastructure and a leaky distribution network.
Aging Infrastructure Leads to Significant Water Loss
The city lost 23 per cent of its water last year, a rate consistent with the average range of 20 to 24 per cent experienced since 2019, the report states. This figure is an estimate based on comparing water produced at treatment plants with water billed through customer meters.
Dr. Kerry Black, a civil engineering professor at the University of Calgary and Canada Research Chair in integrated knowledge, engineering and sustainable communities, said the loss rate is not surprising. “The older infrastructure gets, the more chances there are for it to leak and the more that number goes up,” she said. “When you start to see water loss rates between 20 to 30 per cent, these are not necessarily surprising. But it doesn’t mean it’s not concerning and that something shouldn’t be done to address it.”
The Scale of Calgary's Water Network
Calgary operates more than 5,500 kilometres of underground water pipes, delivering water to over 1.6 million customers in Calgary, Airdrie, Chestermere, Strathmore, and the Tsuut’ina Nation. The network includes more than 345,000 service connections. While some leaks are expected, recent failures of the Bearspaw south feeder main have highlighted the urgency of reducing water loss.
Black emphasized that public attention on water issues presents an opportunity for action. “When you have people’s attention and people caring about water in Calgary — that’s the time to be pushing forward ambitious agendas for water. Now is the time to seize on the fact that most Calgarians are the most informed they’ve ever been about water infrastructure.”
Proposed $342 Million Investment
The city produces an average of 550 million litres of water per day, with higher volumes in summer. A 23 per cent loss rate equates to approximately 40 billion litres annually, or about 115 million litres daily. To address this, administration recommends council approve a capital spending plan of $342 million for the 2027-30 budget cycle. The funds would be used to replace aging water infrastructure, improve leak detection, and enhance water usage measurement.
The report will be presented to council’s infrastructure and planning committee on Tuesday.
