Calgary water restrictions could be lifted Thursday

City officials say an additional pump at the Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant will be activated at noon Monday to increase the speed and pressure of water in the main.

If all goes well during monitoring over the next three days, there could be an easing of outdoor water restrictions on Thursday.

“I cannot emphasize enough how critical the next 72 hours are,” Mayor Jyoti Gondek said in a morning update.

“It may be a situation where increased speed and pressure create another critical point that needs to be addressed.”

Water restrictions have been implemented at varying stages since a massive break in the main supply line occurred on June 5.

The main pipeline is full of water but is currently flowing at 55 percent of its normal rate. When an additional pump is put into operation at midday Monday, the flow will increase to 70 percent, officials said.

The pipe with the highest pressure will be closely monitored to determine if there are any additional weak points.

“This may be a little alarming, but it’s part of our calculated decision,” said Michael Thompson, general manager of Calgary’s infrastructure services.

For now, Calgary remains under Stage 3 outdoor water restrictions, meaning people can only water plants with a watering can or bucket using tap water.

Moving from Stage 3 to Stage 2 would allow Calgarians to use a sprinkler for up to one hour per week.

To remove all water restrictions, the flow in the pipeline would have to return to at least 75 percent without any problems being found during line monitoring.

City crews, contractors and teams are ready to respond if there are any issues with the water main as water pressure and velocity increases.

Acoustic monitoring of the pipeline has been underway as flow increases, and officials found three more areas where the steel cable had snapped. That doesn’t mean repair work is needed immediately, officials said.

The city has pledged to conduct a full, third-party investigation into what led to the breach and how the crisis was handled.

Gondek also pledges to advocate for more funding to support infrastructure improvements and repairs, which she says should be a concern for all municipalities in the country.

The City Council has not published any information on the cost so far of the main water pipe break.