Understanding outdoor water restrictions

Watering during the coolest times of the day, morning and evening, reduces the amount of evaporation that occurs from the lawns, sprinklers and soil. 

In the summer, water demand in Calgary is greatest in mornings and evenings, and from Friday through to Monday.

By restricting outdoor water use to certain days and times we can level out the demand for water, reducing the impact on our water treatment plants and distribution system, and rivers. 

All Calgarians are responsible for following the watering schedule if an outdoor water restriction is announced.

If you’re not home during either day, we encourage you to ask a friend or a neighbour to turn on your sprinkler during the approved times or consider installing a timer on your sprinkler system. 

If you are going to be out of town, please ensure that whoever is responsible for checking on your property understands how to operate your sprinkler system and can adjust it during a restriction.   

Watering your plants with a soaker hose or drip irrigation system should follow the designated watering days based on your address and occur before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m. to make the most of every drop.

In consultation with the irrigation and landscape industries, extended sprinkler hours for multi-family and industrial, commercial, and institutional (ICI) sites that irrigate with an automatic irrigation system  were approved as part of the Water Utility Bylaw updates in April 2026. These changes allow large sites to water landscapes longer in early restriction stages, ensuring survival of vegetation.     

• Allowable watering in Stage 1 for these sites increases from 2 hours a day, once a week, to a maximum of up to 15 hours a day, two days per week between 7 p.m. and 10 a.m.  
• Allowable watering in Stage 2 for these sites increases from 1 hour a day, once a week, to a maximum of up to 15 hours, one day per week between 7 p.m. and 10 a.m.

Automatic irrigation systems for large sites include multiple zones. When the system is turned on, these zones are pressurized one at a time, so watering starts at the first zone, then when the first zone is complete, the second zone is pressurized and waters, and it continues until the cycle is complete. 

For sites that have dozens of zones, the 2 hours a week allowed in Stage 1 restrictions means that, by the time each zone is pressurized, they are only watering for a few minutes before moving to the next zone. This is not enough time for these sites to keep vegetation healthy.  

Yes. Kids can play in the sprinkler during Stage 1 and 2 restrictions to cool off, but please be mindful of the water use and shut off when they are done playing. 

As another more water-wise alternative, soak sponges in a bucket of water for a game of sponge tag or enjoy one of the many wading pools, spray parks and outdoor pools around the city.  

You can use water remove graffiti in Stages 1-3, but it is not allowed in Stage 4. You may repaint, dry scrub/sand or use non-water cleaning options. ** 

Businesses using non-potable water sources are allowed to continue, for example, using stormwater for outdoor irrigation.

Options for accessing non-potable water:

• Businesses may be able to get non-potable water or potable water from other regional towns, not serviced by Calgary’s water system (e.g. Cochrane, Okotoks or High River).
• Temporary Diversion Licences (TDLs): As the resource of water is managed by the province of Alberta, there is an opportunity for a business to apply for a TDL (temporary diversion licence) that would allow them to withdraw water from the river. 
• Storm Ponds Under Developer Control: Storm ponds still under developer control can be used for pumping at the developer’s discretion. Using non-potable water in parks accessible to the public requires signage stating it, as water from rivers and storm ponds can be contaminated. Signs were provided to Contractors by the Inspectors in 2024, and there are a handful available if needed, for both installation on site and being affixed to water trucks.

Access to City stormwater ponds is not permitted due to health and safety concerns, including water quality issues, traffic safety risks and potential hazards associated with storm ponds. 

In the event of a water infrastructure failure that requires Stage 4 outdoor water restrictions in summer 2026, The City has plans in place to support the community. While restrictions are in effect, The City intends to open three river water pick‑up stations across the city to provide free, non-potable water for residents and businesses.

The City will work to set up these sites as quickly and safely as possible. Updates will be shared as locations and hours of operation are confirmed.

Yes, all bulk water stations remain open. However, under Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions, potable water collected from a bulk water station may only be used for health and safety purposes and cannot be used for any of the following:

• Washing down any outdoor surfaces, including exterior building surfaces, windows, sidewalks, driveways or walkways of any sort unless your business requires it for health and safety reasons.
• Using water for construction purposes such as grading, compaction or dust control.
• Filling of outdoor decorative features, fountains, pools or hot tubs.
• Watering lawns, gardens, trees and shrubs by any method

Yes, indoor pools are allowed to operate when water restrictions are in effect. During this time we ask these facilities to adjust their operations to conserve water where possible.

At our City-operated recreation facilities, we make operational adjustments to reduce water use by:

• Conducting frequent inspections to identify and repair leaky faucets, showerheads, toilets, water fountains and pool basins.
• Adjusting cleaning procedures to conserve water.
• Switching from cloths to disposable paper towels to reduce laundry-related water use.
• Refraining from refilling kiddie pools and hot tubs once water quality can no longer be maintained within required regulatory limits.

No, this is not possible under the Water Utility Bylaw. It remains critical that we balance demand with the available water supply to ensure we have water available to meet essential needs such as water for firefighting. 

Onsite concrete mixing:

Mixing concrete directly at the construction site with a City potable water source is not permitted during Stage 4 Outdoor Water Use Restrictions.

On-site mixing is only permitted with non-potable water.

Batched concrete from a plant:

Batched concrete at a plant is considered indoor water use and is permitted. We know not all concrete plant activities are enclosed in a building, but most are.

When the plant mixed concrete is delivered, any water-related activities (e.g. washing out trucks, finishing, curing, exposing aggregate finish) must use non-potable water. If potable water is used, it must be sourced from a non-City of Calgary supply.

No, City potable water for construction purposes, including creating an exposed-aggregate finish, is not permitted; however, using non-potable water is an alternative.

We recommend alternative methods, such as air-sandblasting, be used to create exposed aggregate finishes.

Pressure testing newly constructed water mains is permitted; however, chlorination and flushing is not permitted. This should not delay home building but will alter the sequencing of when a service connection is made.

Once Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions are lifted and direction has been provided by The City of Calgary, any impacted watermains are to be chlorinated, flushed and sampled as per City of Calgary specifications. Scheduling for flushing and sampling will need to be coordinated with the assigned area Utility Inspector to ensure their availability.

The following framework applies to permit pressure testing; however, flushing is not permitted.

• The City of Calgary will allow potable water from the system to be used for pressure testing only - chlorination and flushing will not be permitted.
• Once Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions are lifted and direction has been provided by The City of Calgary - any impacted watermains are to be chlorinated, flushed and sampled as per City of Calgary specifications.
• Scheduling for flushing and sampling will need to be coordinated with the assigned area Utility Inspector to ensure their availability.

Lot Servicing:

• Installation of services may be completed without initial chlorination.
• Service pigtails will not be required to be brought to the surface.
• Services cannot be connected to a dwelling until the watermain has been chlorinated, flushed and sampled as per City of Calgary specifications.
• If you are working in a municipality on the Calgary regional water system, you must work with them directly to confirm their reservoirs, and system can manage the water draw.
• The City of Calgary will allow potable water to be used to keep positive pressure on watermains during tapping of new services as per City of Calgary Standard Specifications Waterworks Construction.

Sewer CCTV Video Survey

• The City of Calgary will not permit the use of potable water from the system for flushing of sewer mains or maintaining a baseflow for CCTV video processing.
• Currently there has been no communication regarding any use of non-potable water for these purposes. Once we receive confirmation regarding any use or source of non-potable water, we will provide this information accordingly.

The City will not permit water service connection to any dwellings if the watermain has not been fully commissioned (chlorinated, flushed and sampled).

If the watermain has been fully commissioned, the dwelling can tie into the service as per standard requirements.

Please refer to the following framework. This framework does not delay home building, rather it alters the sequencing of when a service connection is made.

• The City of Calgary will allow potable water from the system to be used for pressure testing only - chlorination and flushing will not be permitted.
• Once Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions are lifted and direction has been provided by The City of Calgary - any impacted watermains are to be chlorinated, flushed and sampled as per City of Calgary specifications.
• Scheduling for flushing and sampling will need to be coordinated with the assigned area Utility Inspector to ensure their availability.

Lot Servicing:

• Installation of services may be completed without initial chlorination.
• Service pigtails will not be required to be brought to the surface.
• Services cannot be connected to a dwelling until the watermain has been chlorinated, flushed and sampled as per City of Calgary specifications.
• If you are working in a municipality on the Calgary regional water system, you must work with them directly to confirm their reservoirs, and system can manage the water draw.
• The City of Calgary will allow potable water to be used to keep positive pressure on watermains during tapping of new services as per City of Calgary Standard Specifications Waterworks Construction.

Yes. This would be deemed indoor water use and therefore would be permitted.

No. Hydrant use is prohibited under Stage 4 restrictions, except for essential City flushing or temporary hookups for buildings without water. 

No. Diagnostic testing of building assemblies using a water spray testing method is not permitted during Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions. It is recommended to use an alternate method or reschedule testing until restrictions are lifted.

At this time, the Calgary Fire Department does not anticipate issuing a fire ban or hot works ban during the reinforcement work; however, if conditions change due to weather or unanticipated water supply limitations, this could be reconsidered.

Yes. All testing, repair, and maintenance of cross-connection control assemblies must continue. This is critical for protecting public health and water safety.  

Yes. During a water shortage, the water from your tap continues to be safe, high-quality water. When a water shortage is announced we are experiencing difficulties producing the volume of water necessary to meet all of Calgary’s needs.

It does not indicate that your water quality has deteriorated in any way. If water quality were to become a concern, citizens would be notified and depending on the reason, given direction on how to boil or access water for drinking. 

• The city’s water sources are continuously monitored to ensure the safety and excellent quality of the water supply. 
• Our drinking water continues to meet or perform better than all guidelines set by provincial and federal health standards. 

Although outdoor water restrictions should minimize the impact of water pressure problems to customers, some customers may experience low water pressure at peak water demand times. 

We understand it can seem wasteful to see water running during repairs, especially with strict outdoor water restrictions. But flushing is required to keep our drinking water safe and protects our water distribution system. 
 
As part of federally and provincially legislated water quality requirements, The City is required to maintain water quality after completing repairs.  
 
After any pipe repair, flushing removes sediment or contaminants that may have entered the system. 
 
You’ll see crews flushing after repairs to the feeder main and during other routine pipe repairs across the city.