Amid ongoing restoration efforts on the Dec. 30 rupture of the Bearspaw South feeder main, Calgary City Council learned that the cause of the June 2024 break was decades of disorganized leadership that delayed maintenance.
Released Jan. 6, the independent review looked into the health of the city’s water system to identify faulty materials, inadequate risk assessments, and governance as factors contributing to the break almost two summers ago, which is not the first of its kind.
According to the report, the type of concrete used to build the feeder main was named at risk of failure over 20 years ago, following a similar rupture of the McKnight feeder main in 2004.
Inadequate management within the city’s water utility department led to poor communication with the city council, the report said, resulting in the risk being deprioritized in the years to follow.
“These process gaps persisted over two decades within an environment of unclear accountability and a culture of risk tolerance and decision deferral,” the report reads. “These gaps exist within today’s organization structure … leaving no single leader accountable for end-to-end outcomes.”
Chair of the independent review, Siegfried Kiefer, joined four professionals from the natural gas industry as panellists for the report. Over nine months, they drew on external experts, documents, and interviews to complete the report.
Worries about future problems
During the panel’s presentation to city council on Jan. 7, Kiefer said it’s likely the city will experience similar water system issues in the future, citing last summer’s undetected sewage release into the Bow River as an example.
“This is an indication of infrastructure that was under stress, perhaps not inspected frequently enough,” he said.
The panel recommended fast-tracking the appraisal and repairs of known feeder main issues, including wiring and soil composition. Additionally, they said strengthening the risk assessment process and refocusing the utility department are crucial to improving the city’s water system.
The report did not consider the most recent water main break because it occurred before the report was completed. However, the authors say the recommendations still stand.
The rupture at the 16 Avenue and Sarcee Trail section of the Bearspaw South feeder main — carrying 60 per cent of the city’s potable water — has sparked boil-water advisories in neighbouring communities and conservation measures city-wide.
Calgarians continue to use too much water
As of Jan. 8, daily water usage stood at 507 million litres, above the target range of 485 million litres. This puts the city at an unsustainable level that could impact emergency services, according to a news release from the City of Calgary.
“Calgary’s water system is under significant strain, and while we’ve seen encouraging signs of reduced consumption, we are still operating with very limited capacity to respond to any unexpected events,” said Calgary Emergency Management Agency chief Susan Henry.
Restoration efforts to the seven-kilometre piece of pipe and above roadway are “progressing well,” according to the news release. But until construction is complete and water quality has been tested, the city suggests flushing toilets, running the dishwasher, and showering less to alleviate pressure.
City council and administration are expected to discuss the independent review further during a confidential meeting on Jan. 13.