Calgary Water Consumption Surges to 493 Million Litres Amid Crisis

Calgary faced a significant increase in water consumption on March 15, 2024, reaching a staggering 493 million litres. This surge has put the city’s water resources under what officials describe as “heavy strain.” According to the City of Calgary, the figure was up by 20 million litres from the previous day’s usage of 473 million litres. The rise in demand comes in the wake of a recent water-main break that has prompted officials to urge residents to conserve water.

Chris Huston, the City of Calgary’s manager for drinking water distribution, emphasized the need for the community to reduce daily consumption to below 485 million litres for several weeks. This target is essential to ensure that water supplies remain viable while crews work on repairs. “This puts a heavy strain on our supply,” the city announced on its social media platform. The message encouraged residents to take small steps to conserve water during this critical time, stating, “Every small action helps while crews work hard to restore service.”

Media Update and Political Reactions

A media update is scheduled for 1 p.m. today, where officials will provide the latest details on the water-main break located at 16th Ave. N.W. and Sarcee Trail. Mayor Jeromy Farkas shared on social media that an independent panel will soon release a report related to Calgary’s water system, which has been a point of contention in light of the recent failures. His post included links to previous reports, an investigation into the pipe issues, and summaries of the findings.

Political leaders are also weighing in on the crisis. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith directly attributed the current pipe problems to past administrations, specifically criticizing former Calgary Mayor and current Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi. Smith claimed that the city had neglected to monitor the state of the Bearspaw South Feeder Main, which has ruptured twice in less than two years. “Frustration doesn’t begin to describe what we’re seeing with what happened in Calgary,” Smith stated, citing a prolonged history of leakage issues within the city’s water system.

In response, Nenshi defended his record, stating that inspections were consistently conducted during his tenure from 2010 to 2021. He characterized Smith’s comments as “total garbage,” arguing that there were no major water main breaks in Calgary throughout the two decades leading up to the current incident. “This is very emblematic of this government. Rather than actually trying to help solve the problem or act as adults in an emergency, they lash out,” he said during a video news conference.

As the city navigates this critical situation, residents are encouraged to stay informed through official updates and contribute to conservation efforts. The ongoing developments highlight the importance of addressing infrastructure challenges while fostering community cooperation during emergencies.