16th Avenue N.W. reopens to traffic as Calgary water use drops back into 'green zone'

After nudging into the "yellow," or "strained" zone of water usage on Friday, the City of Calgary says residents' water usage was back in the green "sustainable" zone Saturday for the fourth time in five days.

Calgarians used 471 million litres of water on Saturday, comfortably below the 485 million litre sustainable zone threshold.

The updated water use figures came during Sunday's daily briefing on the progress of water main repairs by the city's director of water services, Nancy Mackay.

The Bearspaw feeder main, a critical piece of infrastructure that distributes the majority of Calgary's water, is out of service. So the Glenmore plant is now producing approximately 70 per cent of Calgary's water supply. Normally, it would be handling 30 per cent at this time of year, with the Bearspaw plant producing the rest.

Keeping usage levels in the green zone means the Glenmore Water Treatment Plant can be operated safely and sustainably without undue strain on the system, according to the city.

Mackay also announced that 16th Avenue N.W. has been reopened to traffic, one day earlier than Monday's planned reopening.

Some localized lane closures near 43rd Street N.W. remain, she said.

Mackay provided an update on the repair work being done at 21 sites along the feeder main, saying crews continue to make great progress.

Beginning Sunday, she said, crews will be moving to daytime shifts only, which will eliminate overnight noise for residents along 33rd Avenue N.W.

Mackay said the Bearspaw feeder main is expected to return to full service sometime next weekend, at which time water restrictions will be lifted.