Calgary moves to Stage 2 of water restrictions, allowing some outdoor watering
Calgary is able to ratchet its water restrictions down another notch as the city slowly recovers from a catastrophic rupture to a key water main, Mayor Jyoti Gondek announced Thursday.
She said the city was moving to Stage 2 outdoor water restrictions, meaning residents will finally be able to water their parched gardens and lawns — though with some limitations.
Gondek spoke with some relief about the move.
"First, it means that you are able to provide more care for your gardens, your flowers and your trees," she said.
"But most importantly, it means that Calgary's water infrastructure has held up as we increased speed of flow in the pipes from the Bearspaw water treatment facility."
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Under Stage 2, sprinklers, soaker hoses and in-ground sprinkling systems are allowed to be used for up to one hour only per week. As well, people are permitted to water only on certain days, depending on their address or, in the case of multi-unit buildings, their unit number.
House numbers ending with an even number can use a sprinkler Wednesday or Saturday, while house numbers ending with an odd number can use a sprinkler Thursday or Sunday.
Full details of the city's outdoor watering schedule can be found here.
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There are some instances when people can use outdoor watering without following the city's schedule. Those include watering with a hose that has a trigger spray nozzle or drip irrigation, hand watering using a watering can or other container, watering new grass with a sprinkler or irrigation system, and water use for pesticide or fertilizer application.
Some activities remain banned, including outdoor washing of cars, windows, exterior building surfaces, sidewalks, driveways or walkways. Filling fountains or other decorative features, except bird baths, is not permitted.
Professional window washers, however, are able to resume their work.
People who violate the restrictions face fines starting at $600.
The City of Calgary has been gradually lifting restrictions on water use, though officials continue to urge residents to ease back into their regular water-use habits as crews work to fully stabilize the system and monitor how the city's water system will respond to the easing of water conservation measures.
Four total snaps in the wires that coil around the pipe were confirmed along the Bearspaw south feeder main as of Wednesday afternoon. The fourth wire snap was detected Monday, before one additional pump was turned on at the Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant.
Officials had warned on Wednesday if new damage or additional signs of stress are noticed within the pipe, it will halt progress in lifting water restrictions.
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However, the city says that if everything goes as planned, Stage 1 outdoor water restrictions could come into effect on July 22.
"Two weeks ago, we were able to increase the flow of water through the feeder main to about 55 per cent of its maximum capacity," said Michael Thompson, the city's infrastructure services general manager.
"We reached 70 per cent flow earlier this week and have been watching to see how the pipe would respond. We're happy to report that the pipe continues to respond well."
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Thompson said crews have not detected any new wire snaps since the pressure in the pipe was increased.
Gondek said even as the city continues to move forward on easing water restrictions, there is still much work to do.
She again noted the city will be doing an independent review of why the feeder main ruptured in the first place and how to prevent such a thing from happening again.
"Now, make no mistake, the work doesn't stop with just a review of the issue," she said.
"We'll be doing everything we can to ensure that the health of our infrastructure going forward is managed in a comprehensive manner, and we will be leading this important conversation across the country."
She said Calgary is on the front lines of an infrastructure crisis facing North American cities.
"I just can't sugar-coat that," Gondek said. "This is a legacy issue that spans back decades. It is not easily addressed, and it has clearly been ignored or written off as too expensive by politicians and governments for some time."
This article was originally published for CBC News. Contains files from Tony Seskus and Lily Dupuis.
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This article was originally published for CBC News. Contains files from Lily Dupuis and Omar Sherif.
Header image courtesy of Q. Hưng Phạm/Pexels.
