Bowness businesses contend with sinkhole after another Calgary water main break

Businesses along Bowness Road in Calgary have been grappling with the aftermath of another water main break, resulting in a sinkhole appearing over the weekend. The rupture, which occurred around 10 a.m. on Saturday, affected around 20 businesses situated between 62nd and 63rd Street N.W. The City of Calgary reported the water main ruptured around 10 a.m. on Saturday.

One of the affected businesses, The Place restaurant, has been closed for three days, with owner Paul Sipos estimating his losses to be around $9,000 in revenue and unsellable food due to the temporary closure. Sipos expressed frustration with his staff needing to call suppliers to delay payment processing due to the financial strain.

Despite the ongoing repairs, the City of Calgary confirmed a second leak developed near the initial repair site after water pressure was restored. Crews are currently replacing a small section of the watermain and anticipate full water service restoration by the end of the day. The Mainstreet Bowness Business Improvement Area expressed concern over the recurring water main issues, with BIA executive director Kellie Freeman noting the pattern of such incidents occurring every few months.

Even though The Place restaurant does not rely on water to operate, business owner Jesse Bain highlighted the impact of construction in the area on foot traffic and customer access, particularly during weekend hours, which are traditionally the busiest. The water main break is not directly linked to the Bearspaw feeder main, which has experienced two ruptures in the past two years, leading to city-wide water use restrictions and boil-water advisories.

The city is currently working to replace the pipe, with the project expected to be completed by December. City Councilor Kim Tyers emphasized the need for increased funding for water infrastructure improvements in the upcoming four-year budget, set to be debated in November, stressing the importance of addressing recurring water main issues to prevent residents from becoming accustomed to such disruptions.