Water main break discussion

[YYCguy]

I’m annoyed that the city is just now turning off showers in city owned arenas and flooding ice rinks with non potable water. Those things should have been done from the start! And all recreation centres, not just city owned, should be doing the same thing.

 

[Mountain Man]

Sounds like the city is going to begin work to twin the feeder main this year. They are going to use a TBM to minimize disruption to residents, costs are pegged at about $1B so far. There are also upgrades planned to both the Bearspaw and Glenmore treatment plants.

 

[CalgaryTiger]

It has to be done, probably the city's most important infrastructure. We all knew what it was like last year to be on the brink of losing it. Still wild that big of a main failed...

 

[darwink]

Sounds like the city is going to begin work to twin the feeder main this year. They are going to use a TBM to minimize disruption to residents, costs are pegged at about $1B so far. There are also upgrades planned to both the Bearspaw and Glenmore treatment plants.

The twinning is part of a potential $1 billion borrowing authorization, not the twinning is $1 billion.
3 big mains projects, 1 new water treatment plant, 1 plant expansion, plus the twinning. More info here if you like .

 

[ByeByeBaby]

APEGA, the board overseeing professional engineering in Alberta, has concluded their review into this incident. The main conclusion is that the City of Calgary's engineering oversight and management was sound:

In relation to the city’s water-distribution network and the Bearspaw South water main, the practice review found the City of Calgary had sound engineering oversight and the appropriate risk-based management in place to meet the expectations required of an APEGA permit holder and was in compliance with its obligations under the EGP Act, the General Regulation, and APEGA’s bylaws and practice standards. No indications of unskilled practice or unprofessional conduct were found during the practice review.

The practice review included a high-level literature review to provide context on the magnitude and mechanisms of prestressed concrete cylinder pipe (PCCP) failures. At the time of installation, in 1974, the feeder main was reportedly expected to have a 100-year service life. However, PCCP-manufacturing standards were relaxed from the late 1960s to the early 1970s by the American Water Works Association, resulting in a high rate of premature failures, and standards have since been strengthened.

 

[Nawads]

https://livewirecalgary.com/2025/12...likely-related-to-bearspaw-south-feeder-main/

Sounds like we may have another watermain feeder break along 16th.

 

[lemongrab]

Thankfully typical January demand is about the same as the rationing targets from last time, so hopefully we'll only need modest efforts to keep supply in check.

 

[Mountain Man]

I'm on a boil water advisory, not fun but at least I have enough water pressure for a shower. I'm thinking living in this part of the city may be a bit risky knowing what a timebomb this main is, this is going to keep happening until they replace the pipe!

 

[CalgaryTiger]

I thought you lived in Point McKay... Construction on the replacement I think is set to go for this year, too late though... Is there any other infrastructure that is old and has been holding on but needs repair? This pipe was forgotten because it isn't sexy and isn't seen. If this was replaced ten years ago, no one would've noticed a little extra on their property tax bills.

 

[Roaring Flames]

I thought you lived in Point McKay... Construction on the replacement I think is set to go for this year, too late though... Is there any other infrastructure that is old and has been holding on but needs repair? This pipe was forgotten because it isn't sexy and isn't seen. If this was replaced ten years ago, no one would've noticed a little extra on their property tax bills.

The main feeder was expected to last much longer than it did. It's not that they forgot to replace it or anything like that. The steel used to reinforce the pipes was defective, reducing the expected lifespan.

 

[CalgaryTiger]

The main feeder was expected to last much longer than it did. It's not that they forgot to replace it or anything like that. The steel used to reinforce the pipes was defective, reducing the expected lifespan.

Really? Then I do not like the narrative that people, specifically Farkas and Farrel, were sounding the alarm before this happened. Maybe they were saying the City needed to do more to replace aging infrastructure, which is fair but also quite a broad statement. I guess that's why we need this report to be released, it should have the answers as to who knew what and when.

I imagine this will be used to shuffle some things around at City Hall admin. Whether they were responsible or not, I think one side of council has wanted that to happen for some time.

 

[DougB]

I thought you lived in Point McKay... Construction on the replacement I think is set to go for this year, too late though... Is there any other infrastructure that is old and has been holding on but needs repair? This pipe was forgotten because it isn't sexy and isn't seen. If this was replaced ten years ago, no one would've noticed a little extra on their property tax bills.

The cost is borne by ratepayers through water bills.

The pipe failed due to a construction technology from the early 70s that turned out to not work, not due to age.

 

[Mountain Man]

The pipe was a 100 year pipe that lasted 50 years. The city did do inspections, but not thorough enough to know the problems the pipe was having. The entire thing needs to be replaced ASAP now and this is going to cost a lot of money. I also think we are going to be on water restrictions of some sort for most of the year now as this is very likely to happen again. At least I don't have to boil my water anymore...

This article that was shared in 2024 when this first happened gives some good insight into what happened.

I really hate how the UCP shitheads are trying to politicize it too, when I can I sign the recall Marlaina petition?!

 

[darwink]

The entire thing needs to be replaced ASAP now and this is going to cost a lot of money.

Good thing that project has already been funded, and the project to create resiliency so there isn't a single point of failure which degrades so much capacity.

 

[CalgaryTiger]

we are going to be on water restrictions of some sort for most of the year

I do think this will be something we deal with until it is fully replaced, not just for the next year. I'm not sure how the City can have the confidence to fill the pipe to full capacity again?

Something that also needs to be considered are the effects of running Glenmore at full capacity. That will affect that facility in ways we need to plan for now. And I'm sure this is something that is on the minds of water people at the city. Not to mention the City is about to undertake an expansion to that facility further into Glenmore Athletic Park.

Another aspect of this is I wonder what this means for senior administrative leadership at the City. Some councillors must be salivating at the thought of using this to shake things up.