Calgary residents can once again use water outdoors without restrictions after the city successfully brought a critical third pump online for a damaged water main, marking a significant step toward restoring normalcy.
A Milestone Achievement for the City's Water System
The announcement came during a news conference on Friday, January 16, 2026, led by Mayor Jeromy Farkas and city officials. The third and final pump for the Bearspaw South feeder main was activated Friday morning without any issues, allowing the city to lift the Stage 4 outdoor water restrictions that had been in place since December 31.
"All has gone well with bringing this pipe back into service," stated Michael Thompson, the city's General Manager of Infrastructure Services. "This means we’re able to lift our water restrictions. Please know the water is safe to drink."
A Temporary Fix for a Larger Problem
While the successful pump activation is a relief, officials were quick to temper celebrations with a dose of reality. The failure of the feeder main below 16th Avenue N.W. just before the new year exposed serious questions about the pipe's long-term structural integrity.
Mayor Farkas acknowledged the disruption and thanked Calgarians and regional partners for their patience and concerted efforts to save water. The city had pleaded for voluntary reductions in indoor water use, such as taking shorter showers, throughout the crisis.
"To Calgarians, as well as those who helped us do our part in the region – thank you for helping save water…and thank you for your patience," Farkas said. "We know this has been incredibly disruptive and frustrating."
He emphasized that Friday's development only buys the city time to plan and execute a full replacement of the aging feeder main. "Our job…is not to celebrate the patch," Farkas declared. "Our job is to deliver the replacement faster than anyone thinks possible. We need to do what would normally take four years in one year. That’s the challenge."
Return to Normalcy for City Services
With water pressure and supply now stabilized, the city is resuming regular operations at public facilities. Aquatic centres will return to normal schedules this weekend, and arenas will resume their standard procedures for flooding ice sheets for hockey and skating.
The lifting of restrictions signals the end of an urgent conservation period that gripped the city for over two weeks. However, the focus now shifts to the monumental task of replacing the critical water infrastructure, a project that Mayor Farkas has framed as a top priority requiring unprecedented speed and efficiency.
