CALGARY – Boil-water advisories for several Calgary neighborhoods affected by a significant watermain break have been lifted. This development comes as crews continue to work on repairing the Bearspaw South Feeder Main, which is a critical pipeline supplying potable water to most parts of the city.
The advisories, which had been in effect for nearly 3,000 residents in the areas of Parkdale, Montgomery, Point McKay, and West Hillhurst, were initiated on December 30, 2025, following the rupture of the watermain. The city has confirmed that thorough water quality testing, conducted in partnership with Alberta Health Services and Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, indicates that the water in these communities meets safety standards.
Despite the lifting of the advisories, officials have advised residents who have not used their taps in the past 24 hours to flush their home water systems before consuming it. Furthermore, the city has emphasized the ongoing need for water conservation among Calgarians to prevent demand from surpassing supply levels. Recently, water usage in Calgary reached 495 million liters, exceeding the target goal of 485 million liters, raising concerns about water sustainability.
Calgary Emergency Management Agency Chief Susan Henry highlighted the importance of conserving water, particularly as many residents are set to return to work and school on the first Monday of 2026. She urged the public to re-evaluate their water consumption habits to support the city’s water management efforts.
In addition to the water advisories, traffic conditions along 16 Avenue NW have also been impacted by the watermain break. The city has announced the reopening of a single eastbound lane on 16 Avenue NW, east of Sarcee Trail NW, while access to the eastbound lanes from Sarcee has also been restored. However, westbound traffic along 16 Avenue NW between 49 Street and Sarcee Trail NW remains closed as repairs continue.
The city provided a status update on the ongoing repair efforts for the watermain break. Crews have successfully removed water from the site located along 16 Avenue NW and have excavated the section of the main that was damaged. They are currently transitioning into the pipe removal phase of the repair process, which is expected to start on Sunday.
This incident marks the second rupture of the Bearspaw South Feeder Main within a year and a half, a pipeline responsible for delivering 60 percent of the treated water to Calgary's population of approximately 1.6 million. The previous rupture, which occurred during the summer of 2024, resulted in several months of water usage restrictions, advisories, and the declaration of a state of emergency.
As repair operations continue, city officials are closely monitoring the situation and are encouraging residents to remain proactive about water conservation and to stay informed about any further updates regarding the water supply and ongoing traffic situations in affected areas.
