Our teams will be on site today marking the location of the main pipe. Residents may notice blue paint on the roadway marking the location of the pipe under the road.
Alberta One Call crews will also be in the area to identify other underground utilities. Residents will notice various paint markings on the road, sidewalk and lawns, as well as small flags embedded in the ground. In some cases, crews may need to enter the front or back of private properties from the outside, but will not need to enter homes or businesses.
Construction update
After reviewing the results of our PipeDiver inspection combined with previous testing and ongoing acoustic monitoring, we have determined that repairs are needed on 21 mainline pipe segments and two additional segments. We have decided to increase the number of repairs to reinforce areas close to urgent repairs, even if these areas do not yet have major problems.
These repairs will include 16 to 18 excavation sites, but the exact number may change as we expose the pipes and assess their condition. The planned excavation sites are along 16 Avenue NW and 33 Avenue NW, and east of the Bow River Bridge adjacent to Shouldice Park, with limited impacts to 16 Avenue NW.
Repairs will be completed between August 26 and September 23 and then we will begin work on the two additional pipe sections on Parkdale Boulevard and near Crowchild Trail.
This additional work phase will not require a citywide reduction in water use and we expect less disruption to Calgary residents.
Now that we have identified the specific pipe segments that need to be repaired, our construction crews are developing a plan to sequence the work. Next week, we will provide more details on the repair plan to ensure the process is as efficient as possible.
Public relations
In the coming days, our teams will be contacting affected residents along 33 Avenue NW to establish direct contact and learn about any special needs. If residents are not home, we will leave information with them.
We have contacted the Business Improvement Areas and will speak to the affected companies early next week.
Calgary residents can sign up for email updates to stay informed about specific repair locations, road closures and other impacts. calgary.ca/watermainbreak.
Water protection
While we are not in an emergency situation like the original break, the areas of the main identified during our pipe inspections are at risk of failure. These repairs are needed now to avoid an unplanned break that could disrupt our water supply during the winter.
While the repairs are being carried out, the majority of our water will come from Glenmore Reservoir. It is important that we complete these works now so that we have enough time to refill the reservoir and keep our water supply stable over the winter.
When we enter phase four of outdoor water restrictions on August 26, Calgarians will continue to have access to safe, clean drinking water, although our reclaimed water supply will be limited. For non-potable uses such as gardening and construction, we will open non-potable river water take-out stations for residential and commercial use. Locations and hours will be announced on calgary.ca as soon as they are available.
We’re asking Calgarians to reduce their indoor water use to minimize the strain on our water supply during construction. Simple actions like only flushing the toilet when necessary, doing full loads of laundry, and taking short showers of three minutes or less will make a big difference.
We will continue our discussions with companies to understand their challenges and provide concrete guidance on how to reduce water consumption. Companies can visit calgary.ca/savewateratwork to download our factsheets with water saving tips for employees and customers and learn more about preparation.
We know this situation is challenging for everyone and your support is critical to ensure we have enough water for essential services like firefighters and hospitals.
Next Steps
As part of our preparatory work, we will be cutting sections of the sidewalk along 33 Avenue NW to expose the main service line for repair work. This work will begin next week, and there will be temporary parking restrictions in some areas. Additionally, an equipment storage area will be established at 83 Street NW and 33 Avenue NW to store materials and various equipment needed for the repair work. Fences will be erected to ensure the safety of the site. To prepare the area, approximately 10 small trees will be removed, and we are developing a plan to replant or relocate these trees.
Since March and April we have been using external acoustic monitoring equipment to keep an eye on wire breaks along the main line. As part of the repair work we are now installing a new acoustic fibre optic monitoring system inside the line. This system can more accurately detect wire breaks and monitor the condition of the line.
Starting next week, crews will begin laying the fibre optic cable. This may require working around manholes using tripods and large cable reels. While we complete this installation and prepare for the upcoming repair work, some single lane roads will be closed. These closures are necessary for the safety of our crews and we thank you for your patience during this time.
We thank you for your understanding and support as we complete these important mainline repairs. We are committed to completing the repairs on time and will be working 24 hours a day, seven days a week to minimize impact to Calgary residents, businesses and our regional partners. We will keep you updated throughout the process.
