Calgary may need temporary water restrictions next month for planned pump-station electrical work

Calgary may undergo temporary outdoor water restrictions next month, though not because of the Bearspaw South feeder main that has dominated recent water news.

In September, the city will temporarily shut down the Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant to complete electrical work for a new pump station, as part of the North Calgary Water Servicing Project. Mayor Jeromy Farkas said in a social-media video that any restrictions would be brief and depend on weather and water demand at the time.

"Our water supply is strong but I want to give you an early heads-up that we might need temporary outdoor water restrictions for less than a week in September," Farkas said. "If restrictions are needed, we expect some outdoor water use would still be allowed."

This is planned maintenance, not an emergency. The broader North Calgary Water Servicing Project, budgeted at $533 million, involves installing a 22-kilometre feeder main beneath several communities near the city's northwest boundary. It will run north of the Bearspaw plant near Stoney Trail and Nose Hill Drive, cross under Crowchild Trail, and connect to an existing main at 144th Avenue N.W.

A city water-utility official previously said the new feeder main will carry 100 million litres per day of treated water, with a long-term capacity of 410 million litres per day once Calgary builds a third water treatment plant. The project adds capacity and redundancy to the city's distribution network, Farkas said.

The September work is separate from a longer set of restrictions expected in October. Stage 4 outdoor water restrictions lasting roughly four weeks are needed to tie the replacement Bearspaw South feeder main into the city's system—a process requiring the original main to be out of service.

The original feeder main, which carries 60 per cent of Calgary's treated water, failed twice since 2024, both times triggering weeks of citywide restrictions. The replacement line is being built under 34th Avenue N.W. in Bowness, parallel to the existing pipe. Michael Thompson, General Manager of Infrastructure Services, said the replacement is expected to be completed and in service by December.

The replacement project, budgeted at $439 million, was approved unanimously by council earlier this year. "This is the fastest a project of this size and complexity has been delivered in Canada and likely anywhere in North America, if not the world," Farkas said.