Calgary daily water use remains higher than sustainable levels

Calgarians used 505 million litres of water on Friday, up slightly from Thursday's 502 million litres, the city announced Saturday afternoon.

Citing the current hot temperatures, the city asked residents to be particularly vigilant in their water use over the coming days.

"With the current hot weather forecast, we know demand increases with temperature. It is necessary to keep our treated water consumption down as we continue making urgent repairs to the Bearspaw South Feeder Main," said the city's director of climate and environment, Carolyn Bowen, during a livestream update on the water situation.

Demand has remained at or above 500 million litres per day since Labour Day, despite daily pleas from city officials to cut levels by an additional 20 to 25 per cent to accommodate repairs to the city's water feeder main.

Earlier this week, the city changed the way water flows through its distribution system, allowing for an additional 35 million litres of use each day, and changing the targeted daily use limit from 450 million litres to 485 million litres.

However, officials say the city's water system cannot sustainably handle upwards of 500 million litres of use every day and continuing to do so puts the city's pipes in jeopardy.

Calgary has been under Stage 4 outdoor water use restrictions since August 26. This means no potable water use is permitted outside the home.

For more details on what is and is not allowed under Stage 4 restrictions, visit the city's website.

The city also updated its bylaw enforcement figures Saturday, saying 1,512 complaints have been received about outdoor water misuse, including 1,148 residential premises, 255 commercial/industrial sites, and 109 multi-family buildings. Twenty-two violation tickets have been issued.

The cost for violating the city's outdoor water restrictions is $3,000.

"We understand that it can be frustrating when you are doing your part and see others who are not," said Bowen.

She said Calgarians who are seeing outdoor water misuse can provide information through the Calgary 311 app or Calgary.ca/311.

Bowen said construction to repair 12 segments of the broken feeder main remains on schedule.  

"We have now poured concrete at nine of the 12 repair segments and concrete pouring is anticipated today at the remaining three repair segments, completing this stage of the repair," she said.

Backfill activities are anticipated to begin Saturday along 33rd Avenue.  

Excavation activities continue at the final site on 33rd Avenue at 86th Street N.W. Bowen said it is anticipated that two of the three excavations at this site will be completed Saturday.  

Excavation work at sites along 16th Avenue N.W. has commenced at five of the six segments.  

Rebar materials are anticipated to arrive and be installed at two sites Saturday, and concrete pouring at these two sites is anticipated for early next week.  

The city also reminded Calgarians that 16th Avenue N.W. is closed from 46th Street to 41st Street, with traffic being detoured onto Bowness Road. Bowness Road is fully open in both directions with direct access to 16th Avenue and businesses.