Decision on moving to Phase 1 restrictions

An update on Calgary’s water situation is expected Monday morning, including a possible easing of restrictions that could expand the use of sprinklers.

Mayor Jyoti Gondek and General Manager of Infrastructure Services Michael Thompson will speak to the media and public at 8:30am

CityNews660 will have live coverage of the event and what it means to the residents of Calgary.

Calgary moved to water restrictions phase 2 on Thursdays, which allowed the use of sprinklers, drip hoses or underground sprinkler systems for a maximum of one hour per week on certain days.

Officials have also floated a possible switch to Stage 1 restrictions in the past week. This would allow the use of sprinklers, soaker hoses or in-ground sprinkler systems for up to two hours per week on specified days; even-numbered house numbers would be allowed to water on Wednesdays or Saturdays, and odd-numbered house numbers would be allowed to water on Thursdays or Sundays.

Since moving to Phase 2, the city has reported more snaps along the legbringing the total to five.

“This break does not mean that the critical main will break again anytime soon,” said Nancy MacKay, the city’s water services director.

“However, it does mean that our continued monitoring remains important as we continue to ease water restrictions and consider increasing water flow in that main.”

Crews have also been busy completing repairs to another water break in Montgomery, happened on fridayjust one block away from the original June 5 rupture.

The city says the recent breakthrough was not directly related to the Bearspaw South Feeder Main and was located on a smaller, 10-inch cast iron pipe nearby.

-With files by Alejandro Melgar