Inspection of Bearspaw South Feeder Main starting this week
This week, The City of Calgary is conducting a proactive assessment of a section of the Bearspaw South Feeder Main running from the Bearspaw Water Treatment plant to the 33 Avenue N.W. pump station. This section of the pipe is made of steel and was not inspected at the same time as the Prestressed Concrete Cylinder Pipe (PCCP) segments that were assessed in 2024.
The inspection will use a robotic PipeDiver, a tool that assesses pipe condition by measuring the thickness of the pipe walls using ultra sonic technology. The PipeDiver operates while the pipe is full of water. If all goes as planned, there will be no impact on water service in Calgary or the region, and no water restrictions will be required.
It will take approximately two hours for the device to “swim” the two-kilometre section of the pipe and collect data. The City will receive results in a month, which will inform future plans.
Water restrictions are not planned, but Calgarians are encouraged to stay prepared
Water restrictions are not anticipated during the robotic PipeDiver inspection. In the unlikely event we encounter issues, we may need to implement water restrictions for a brief period to lower demand until the feeder main is brought back into service.
We are asking people to stay prepared and follow local news, The City’s social media channels and calgary.ca for updates.
As we head into spring and summer, residents are also encouraged to consider purchasing a rain barrel to collect rainwater for yards and gardens as an alternative to using treated drinking water. The City’s rain barrel rebate program offers $50 back on eligible purchases. Details are available at calgary.ca/rainbarrel
For more ways to save water at home or in business, visit calgary.ca/savewater
Stay informed
We encourage Calgarians to stay informed and prepared by watching local news, following The City’s social media channels, downloading the Alberta Emergency Alert app and visiting calgary.ca for timely updates.