Monday, March 9, 2026
The City of Calgary announced March 9 the Bearspaw South Feeder Main is out of service to prepare for critical reinforcement work expected to last four weeks.
The city simultaneously announced Stage 4 outdoor water restrictions are in place as well as requesting those Calgary, Airdrie, Chestermere, Strathmore and Tsuut’ina Nation to reduce their indoor water use with a goal to keep daily water use under 500 million litres.
“This shutdown is necessary to complete important reinforcement work and protect our water system. For the next four weeks, we need everyone to work together to reduce water use while our system is less flexible,” City of Calgary director of climate and environment Nicole Newton said.
As part of the shutdown, a City of Calgary release said, pumps at the Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant have been shut down, valves have been closed to isolate the feeder main and crews are currently draining water from the pipe.
Once the feeder main is fully depressurized, crews will begin excavating the pipe, with work expected to start on March 10, the release said. After the pipe is exposed, crews will reinforce it with a steel cage and concrete casing. Construction will take place at all three work sites simultaneously.
“Over the next four weeks, crews will reinforce nine sections of pipe, including six along 16 Avenue N.W. near Sarcee Trail and three at Point McKay Park. Additional feeder main work will also be completed during this time,” the release added.
