Calgary lifts water restrictions after 3 weeks as work continues to replace pipe

CALGARY — Officials lifted water restrictions in Calgary and surrounding communities on Thursday as work continues to replace an ailing water main.

Residents had been asked for more than three weeks to take shorter showers and reduce toilet flushes due to the shutdown of the Bearspaw South Feeder Main.

The main provides 60 per cent of treated water for the area.

“As of today, you can resume normal water use,” said Michael Thompson, Calgary’s general manager for infrastructure services.

“Recreation facilities are returning to normal operations. Hot tubs and kiddie pools are being refilled and will reopen as soon as they are ready.”

Residents in Calgary, along with neighbouring communities, were asked on March 9 to voluntarily cut back on their water use to keep enough in reserve for emergencies such as fighting fires.

Thompson said there were emergencies but, because people cut back on water, crews were able to handle them.

“I know it wasn’t easy, but let me assure you, those actions mattered,” Thompson said.

In the latest round of fixes to the pipe, Thompson said crews fixed nine high-risk segments using steel and concrete while replacing subpar valves.

It’s the third time the city imposed water use limits in less than two years.

Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas has promised a replacement line will be ready by the end of the year.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 2, 2026.

Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press