21 pipe segments of Bearspaw south water main need rehabilitation, 16 to 18 dig sites expected
Stage 4 outdoor water restrictions set to return on Aug. 26
City of Calgary officials announced on Thursday that crews will be conducting the majority of the repairs on 21 segments of the Bearspaw south feeder main along 33rd Avenue and 16th Avenue N.W.
"We will conduct these repairs first, then there will be an additional two pipe segment repairs on Parkdale Boulevard and near Crowchild Trail," Michael Thompson, general manager of infrastructure services, told reporters.
"We have increased the number of pipe segments to be repaired as there are additional repairs that are adjacent to the urgent repairs that are currently needed and we are taking care of all of them at the same time."
Road cutting work is set to run Aug. 20-23. The repairs and Stage 4 water restrictions are scheduled to occur between Aug. 26 and Sept. 23, a date the city says is subject to change as crews work through repairs and visually inspect the pipe.
Once those repairs have been completed, the two additional repairs will be done on Parkdale Boulevard between 26th and 27th streets and on Broadview Road near Crowchild Trail. According to the city, those additional repairs will not require citywide water reductions.
Thompson says because a number of the locations involve multiple pipe segments, there will be 16 to 18 excavation sites, but the exact number could change as crews uncover and assess the condition of the pipes.
The planned excavation sites are along 16th Avenue N.W. and 33rd Avenue N.W. and east of the Bow River Bridge adjacent to Shouldice Park with limited impact to 16th Avenue N.W., according to a news release from the city sent Thursday.
The 21 segments of pipe to be fixed along 33rd Avenue and 16th Avenue N.W. is more than the previously reported 16 segments, which Thompson says is due to further analysis of the PipeDiver data, which was gathered as crews monitored the feeder main's return to service.
"While we are not in a state of emergency, recent data has highlighted certain areas of the feeder main are at risk of failure. Addressing these issues will help us avoid an unplanned break, a breakdown that could disrupt our water supply," said Nicole Newton, the city's manager of natural environment and adaptation, during Thursday's water supply press conference.
"We must complete these repairs within a specific time frame to ensure that Calgary's water supply remains stable throughout the winter."
Thursday's announcement comes after the city revealed that the Bearspaw south feeder main — the city's most critical treated water main — needs further urgent repairs following its rupture on June 5.
As a result, Stage 4 outdoor water restrictions, which are the most restrictive stage, are set to return on Aug. 26. Calgary remains under citywide Stage 1 outdoor water restrictions until then.
During the repair phase, the city will ask all residents and businesses to reduce indoor water use.
"This is crucial to ensure we have enough water for everyone during the repair phase," said Newton.
A return to Stage 4 means no outdoor potable water use is permitted. According to its website, the city will be asking residents and businesses to limit water use the following ways:
- Residents should limit showers to three minutes, skip toilet flushes when possible and wash only full loads of dishes and laundry.
- Businesses are asked to aim for a 25 per cent reduction in daily water use.
What local residents, businesses can expect
City surveying crews will be on site throughout Thursday marking the repair locations along the land above the feeder main and indicating which areas will be impacted by construction.
Thompson says residents may notice different colours of paint on the road and small flags planted in the ground in any locations where other utilities are indicated.
He also added that while crews may need to enter private property, such as front or back lawns, they will not need to enter any homes or businesses.
The city says teams will be in the community reaching out to the those who will be most affected by construction in the coming days.
"They will be establishing a direct line of communications with these Calgarians, obtaining contact details and gathering an understanding of any special requirements the households may have," reads a construction update sent via email on Thursday.
The city says it anticipates construction area impacts between 78th Street to 87th Street N.W. People can sign up for construction email updates via its website.
Fibre optic monitoring system
The city will also be installing a new monitoring system inside the pipe to understand its health more closely, and the city says crews will be installing fibre optic cable inside the pipe next week.
"As we prepare for the feeder main repair work and proceed with the installation of the fibre optic cable, you may see single lane closures of roadways to support us in completing our work," said Thompson.
"These small enclosures are required to assist us with safely completing the preparation work and we thank you for your patience."
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