The City of Calgary is once again urging residents to slash their water use after the municipal system re-entered a state of strain over the weekend. This setback comes as repair crews work to fix a critical burst pipe for the second time in less than two years.
System Slips Back into Yellow Zone
On Saturday, January 3, 2026, Mayor Jeromy Farkas took to social media to deliver an urgent message. He announced that Calgary’s water system had moved into the yellow zone, indicating it is officially considered "strained."
"Calgary, our water system is in the YELLOW ZONE. We need your help urgently to conserve water!" Mayor Farkas wrote on the platform X. This declaration followed a city report that water demand had climbed back to problematic levels on Friday, January 2.
Conservation Targets Exceeded Amid Ongoing Repairs
The strain is quantified by daily water use. The city confirmed that consumption reached 493 million litres on January 2. This figure exceeds the daily conservation target of 485 million litres, placing significant added pressure on the water supply while repairs are underway.
The crisis stems from the rupture of the Bearspaw South feeder main on Tuesday night. This is the second failure of this essential pipe within an 18-month period, raising serious questions about infrastructure reliability.
As of Saturday morning, city crews had successfully cleared water from the break site. They are now in the process of preparing to remove the damaged section of pipe so that permanent repairs can begin.
Restrictions and Advisories Remain in Force
In response to the ongoing situation, Stage 4 outdoor water restrictions remain active not only in Calgary but also in the neighbouring communities of Airdrie, Chestermere, Strathmore, and the Tsuut’ina Nation.
City officials are asking all residents to adhere to strict indoor conservation measures, including:
- Flushing toilets only when necessary.
- Running dishwashers and washing machines only with full loads.
- Limiting showers to three minutes or less.
Furthermore, a boil-water advisory continues for specific neighbourhoods impacted by the break: parts of Parkdale, Montgomery, Point McKay, and West Hillhurst.
The city has scheduled a news conference for 1 p.m. on Saturday to provide the public with a detailed update on the repair progress. The live update will be available for viewing online at calgary.ca/live.
