Update July 10: Critical water main break affecting city-wide water usage

With hot temperatures continuing in the forecast, The City of Calgary is making an exception under our Stage 3 outdoor water restrictions to now allow all outdoor pools, including private residential backyard and kiddie pools, as well as non-residential outdoor pools.
We hope this creates more opportunities for people to stay cool over the coming weeks. Fill your outdoor pools, hand water your gardens, but don't run your sprinklers and hoses for watering plants or other outdoor uses at this time.
As a reminder, here are some other things allowed under Stage 3 Outdoor Water Restrictions:
o Watering plants with a watering can or container using water from your tap.
o Using a sprinkler or hose to water new sod (for up to 21 days after it is planted) or lawn seed (for up to 45 days after it is planted).
o Water use for construction purposes, like dust suppression, compaction, concrete mixing, watering of new trees and shrubs that are part of a new build and other construction-related activities.
o Water use for home renovation projects, like washing driveways and other surfaces to prepare for paving/sealing, or power-washing a home prior to painting.
For more details on what is allowed under Stage 3 Restrictions, please visit calgary.ca/restrictions.
Current situation
As expected, water demand has been gradually increasing as indoor water use returned to normal and with the move to Stage 3 outdoor watering restrictions. Our distribution system is stable and we remain able to meet demand in this stage.
When temperatures rise for prolonged stretches of warm weather, it’s normal to for water use to increase. That’s the pattern we’re seeing now. On Monday, we used 540 million litres of water, up from 507 million litres used the day before. Yesterday, we used 555 million litres, and we anticipate this will increase again today.
Our distribution system is stable and we remain able to meet demand with Stage 3 outdoor water restrictions in place.
Next steps
Moving to Stage 2 outdoor water restrictions, which would allow more use of sprinklers and hoses, will take some time. In order to lift restrictions further, we need to make sure we can supply enough water to meet anticipated demand.
The process of putting pressure back into the feeder main and our system is risky. When we increase water flow and speed, it increases pressure on the walls of the feeder main. Last month we fixed the five hot spots that were of greatest concern, but there are still other areas that we know are structurally weaker. We have been moving carefully, and monitoring as we go, to make sure we aren’t pushing the feeder main past what it can handle.
We are continuing to monitor the situation and will keep sharing developing news and important updates with Calgarians regularly. Please visit Calgary.ca and our social channels to stay informed. You can also sign up to receive City of Calgary Newsroom updates at newsroom.calgary.ca.
Keeping safe and cool during the heat wave
Most City spray parks are now open, and wading pools and outdoor community pools are either open or in the process of opening now. Visit Calgary.ca/sprayparks to learn more.
The City has a map of publicly accessible spaces to help Calgarians and visitors stay cool on hot summer days, as well as safety tips and other resources.
Visit the City’s website to learn more at calgary.ca/heat.