Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas is under mounting pressure to immediately release a critical report investigating the repeated failures of a major city water pipe, a situation he describes as a dire "new reality" for residents.
A City in a Water Crisis
The crisis stems from a large feeder main that first burst in the summer of 2024 and catastrophically failed again just last week. Mayor Farkas, speaking from the Calgary Emergency Operations Centre on Monday, January 5, 2026, painted a grim picture. He characterized the pipe as terminally ill, a ticking time bomb that the city cannot fully neutralize, warning that another rupture could occur at any point along the line.
Farkas pledged not to shy away from the "good, the bad and the ugly" of the situation, though his briefing heavily emphasized the severe challenges ahead. He stated that a return to normal water service will be "a very long time" away, with a replacement pipe not expected until 2028, though the city is attempting to expedite that timeline.
The mayor warned of potential water restrictions through the spring, summer, and fall, though specific details remain undetermined. This "real threat" has left the city scrambling to manage a fragile system while demanding answers about how this debacle occurred.
The Battle Over the Investigation Report
At the heart of the growing controversy is an investigative report compiled by a panel of what Farkas called "distinguished Calgarians." This probe examines not only the physical failure of the pipe but also the role city hall played in the events leading to the current crisis.
Farkas confirmed that city council will receive the report by Tuesday night. He expressed a desire to release it to the public "as quickly as possible," given the ongoing emergency. However, when pressed by journalists to define that timeline, he indicated the public might see it around January 13, after council has had several days to review the findings.
This proposed delay has sparked immediate disagreement within council chambers. Several council members, who sat quietly during the mayor's update, believe January 13 does not constitute "as quickly as possible." They are questioning why the administration would wait to make the report public, arguing for immediate transparency while the city remains, in the mayor's words, "knee-deep" in the crisis.
Accountability and the Path Forward
Farkas defended the timeline, stating the goal is to get the report to Calgarians "as soon as humanly possible," but could not provide a firmer date. He stressed the fundamental importance of releasing the report, acknowledging the public's right to know.
The situation leaves critical questions unanswered about municipal accountability. While the mayor has been forthright about the infrastructural emergency, the forthcoming report is seen as the key document that will assign responsibility for the systemic failures that led to this point. The brewing council battle over its release date underscores the high political and public stakes involved.
As Calgary faces an extended period of vulnerability and potential rationing, residents are left waiting for two crucial timelines: one for the physical repair of their water system, and another for the full truth behind its collapse.
