Water Main Update, February 2026: Bearspaw South Feeder Main Reinforcements

Dear residents,

Today, the City of Calgary has announced plans to move forward with reinforcement repairs to support the stability of the current Bearspaw South Feeder Main. We are providing this update for residents so you can plan ahead and be ready for any impacts this summer.

Due to the critical condition of the feeder main and its importance in Calgary’s drinking water system, the City is reinforcing sections of pipe that they have identified as experiencing higher levels of deterioration. These reinforcements will support continued operation of the feeder main until the new parallel steel pipe is completed. Once the new pipe is completed, it will take over service from the current line. The work occurring this spring will target up to nine segments of the existing pipe to support operations and stability. 

The City has planned to begin this work on March 9, 2026, and it is expected to last approximately four weeks. Confirmed reinforcement work will take place for six segments of pipe along 16 Avenue N.W., near Sarcee Trail.  

Teams are exploring three potential reinforcements at Point McKay Park, further coordination is required due to their proximity with work taking place for the Bearspaw South Feeder Main replacement. Confirmation will be provided as soon as it is available. 

Water restrictions will be in place beginning March 9

The feeder main will be taken out of service to complete construction. During this time, it’s critical that all Calgarians and the surrounding regions use less water. Outdoor water restrictions and indoor water conservation will be in effect starting March 9. No outdoor water use will be permitted during this time. 

This City is asking all Calgarians to save 25-30 litres of water per day indoors by taking the following actions:  

• Keep showers short, three minutes or less.
• Flush toilets only when necessary.
• Only run dishwashers and washing machines when there is a full load. 

The spring feeder main shutdown window also allows additional pieces of work to proceed: 

• Replacement of existing valves on the feeder main near the Shaganappi Pump Station which will support system reliability in the event of a future failure.
• Inspection of the steel pipe connection to the Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant, supporting ongoing condition assessment.
• Replacement of valves at 33rd Ave. and 89 St., which help control how water moves between the feeder main and the smaller distribution system.    

Repairs to use concrete reinforcement technique

Crews will repair the identified pipe segments using a concrete reinforcement technique. This approach involves exposing the pipe through excavation, constructing an exterior reinforcing steel cage, pouring concrete around the existing pipe, and backfilling. The construction method is subject to change once the pipe is exposed. 

Risk of another break remains

The City cannot guarantee that the pipe will not break unexpectedly again before or after the reinforcement work takes place. If another break occurs before the planned reinforcements, crews will move immediately to complete portions of the reinforcement work at the same time as the break repair. Preparations are underway to allow crews to mobilize as quickly as possible if this occurs. 

Regular updates will be available at calgary.ca/bsfmreinforcements   

My sincere thanks to everyone who has done their part to conserve water, and continues to do so. I understand that these repairs will have impacts on the community, and will share regular updates as they come. As always, you can reach us at ward2@calgary.ca with any further questions or concerns.  

-Jennifer