Brief shutdown of Bearspaw water main coming in September for Calgary region

Residents of Calgary and surrounding areas, who were recently relieved from water restrictions, are being warned of another potential shutdown. Mayor Jeromy Farkas announced that the Bearspaw feeder main will be closed for a week in September to complete electrical work on a new pumping station. Farkas clarified that the shutdown is not due to water shortages, but rather to ensure the ongoing supply of water to the city and its residents.

He advised that residents may need to limit outdoor watering during the closure. The Bearspaw feeder main supplies 60% of the treated water to Calgary's 1.6 million residents, nearby municipalities, and the Tsuut’ina Nation. The pipe had experienced failures in June 2024 and December 2025, prompting residents to conserve water by taking shorter showers and reducing toilet flushes.

Farkas stated that the work is part of the North Calgary water servicing project and expects the completion in October, during which there will be additional water restrictions. He added that if restrictions are needed in September, some outdoor water usage will still be permitted. Farkas confirmed that the Bearspaw South Feeder Main will be fully replaced within a year, marking the fastest delivery of such a project in Canada and possibly North America, if not the world.