Calgary Mayor Says City Considering Replacing Water Pipe That Ruptured

Calgary Mayor Says City Considering Replacing Water Pipe That Ruptured
Crews continue to work to repair a major water main break and five other weak spots in Calgary on June 22, 2024. The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh
The Canadian Press
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Calgary’s mayor says the city is considering ways to strengthen a key water main for the long term, including replacing it altogether.

Jyoti Gondek says in the spring the city could add a liner or a sleeve to the pipe to strengthen it, or dig alongside it and built an entirely new one.

The pipe in northwest Calgary ruptured in early June, drenching a stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway and nearby parkland.

The break forced Calgarians to undertake a series of water conservation measures, from not watering lawns to taking shorter showers.

The restrictions had been gradually easing when, earlier this week, Gondek announced the pipe would have to be shut down again after 16 problem spots had been found.

The shutdown is to last about a month starting from Aug. 26, and Gondek says city officials are working with business that rely on outdoor water to find ways to keep operating.