Calgary to Reinstate Stage 4 Water Restrictions for Up to Four Weeks
Calgary officials announced on Friday that the city will return to Stage 4 water restrictions for a period of up to four weeks, beginning March 9. This measure is necessary to facilitate critical reinforcement work on the Bearspaw South feeder main, which will be shut down for much of March.
Preventive Maintenance on Critical Water Infrastructure
The shutdown will allow crews to reinforce nine segments of the feeder main that have shown significant deterioration. According to Michael Thompson, the city's general manager of infrastructure services, inspections conducted after the line's most recent failure on December 30, 2025, revealed these vulnerable sections require immediate attention.
The Bearspaw South feeder main has ruptured twice in the last two years, prompting this proactive maintenance approach. The nine sections to be repaired include six segments of pipe underneath 16th Avenue N.W. near Sarcee Trail and three sections underneath Point McKay Park near the Bow River.
Concrete Reinforcement Technique
The city will employ the same concrete reinforcement technique used when other vulnerable sections were patched in the summer of 2024 following the pipe's first failure. This method involves:
- Excavating and exposing the pipe
- Constructing an exterior reinforcing steel cage
- Pouring concrete around the existing pipe
- Backfilling the soil
Thompson noted that all nine fragile sections are part of the original prestressed concrete cylindrical pipe installed in the mid-1970s. He confirmed that none of the parts reinforced in 2024 have shown any subsequent deterioration.
Additional Maintenance Opportunities
With the 11-kilometre pipe out of commission, crews will also perform other essential work, including:
- Replacing valves on the feeder main near the Shaganappi pump station
- Inspecting the steel pipe connection to the Bearspaw water treatment plant
- Replacing valves at 33rd Avenue and 89th Street N.W. to improve water flow control to distribution lines
Impact on Water Distribution and Conservation Requirements
The shutdown of the feeder main will significantly reduce Calgary's water distribution capability, necessitating the return to Stage 4 restrictions similar to those implemented during the first two weeks of January. The Bearspaw line transports 60 percent of the city's treated water to belowground reservoirs across Calgary.
"During this time, it's critical that all Calgarians and residents of the surrounding region use less water," Thompson emphasized during the announcement.
Without the feeder main in service, Calgary's ability to move water to households and businesses will be hindered, forcing greater reliance on the Glenmore water treatment plant to replenish the system.
Favorable Timing for Repairs
Thompson highlighted that the springtime reinforcement work coincides with higher flows in the Elbow River, which have already helped replenish the Glenmore Reservoir to typical storage levels. Additionally, he noted that "the mountain snowpack is higher than average this winter, so we expect to have a healthy supply of water when the mountain snow melt begins this spring."
The announcement was made by Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas during a press conference at City Hall, where he detailed the necessity of these restrictions to ensure long-term water infrastructure reliability for the city.
