Muhammad Amanullah
Date: September 25, 2026 The True Post (Web News) —The replacement of Calgary’s Bearspaw South Feeder Main is progressing according to schedule, with approximately 80 per cent of the new pipeline now installed, city officials say.
The City of Calgary continues to target the end of 2026 for completion of the project and bringing the new feeder main into service. However, residents will face temporary water-use restrictions when the new pipeline is connected to the existing water network.
Construction Progress Continues
According to city officials, most of the work on Stage A of the project has now been completed. This section extends from the Shaganappi Pump Station to 73 Street N.W.
Construction is continuing on Stage B in the Bowness area. Of the 13 blocks included in this stage, work has been completed on seven blocks, meaning more than half of the pipeline installation in this section is now finished.
City officials say construction crews continue to make progress across both stages.
Darren Finney, a manager with the City of Calgary’s Major Projects division, said the project remains on schedule and the target of bringing the replacement feeder main into service by the end of the year remains unchanged.
Approximately 90 per cent of the construction materials required for the project have also been delivered to the site.
Road and Property Restoration Underway
As sections of the pipeline are completed, restoration work is also getting underway.
Crews are restoring roads, sidewalks and access to homes and properties in areas where pipeline installation has been completed.
The city said affected areas will gradually be returned to their previous condition as construction progresses. However, landscaping and restoration of vegetation are expected to continue into the spring of next year.
Temporary Water Restrictions Expected
Connecting the new feeder main to Calgary’s existing water system will require the old feeder main to be temporarily taken out of service.
During that process, the city expects to introduce temporary Stage 4 outdoor water restrictions.
Residents will also be asked to use water carefully indoors while the connection work is underway.
The restrictions are intended to reduce pressure on Calgary’s water system while allowing crews to safely connect the replacement pipeline to the existing network.
New Pipeline Expected to Be Tested in December
The City of Calgary expects the process of connecting and commissioning the new pipeline to begin in December.
Once the connection work is completed, the temporary water restrictions are expected to be lifted.
However, the new pipeline will not immediately enter full service.
Before it becomes part of Calgary’s drinking-water system, the pipeline will have to be filled with water, disinfected and tested through several stages.
Officials say these procedures are necessary to ensure the new infrastructure meets the required safety and technical standards before it is placed into regular service.
Additional Repairs Planned This Fall
The city is also planning targeted repair work this fall on another section of the feeder main near Parkdale Boulevard and Memorial Drive.
Officials said inspections found the overall condition of the pipeline to be satisfactory, but identified several specific locations where preventative repairs are required.
The work is intended to improve the long-term reliability of the feeder main and reduce the risk of unexpected failures in the future.
Project Accelerated After Two Major Breaks
The replacement project was accelerated following two major failures involving the Bearspaw South Feeder Main.
The first major break occurred on June 5, 2024, when the feeder main ruptured and caused significant disruption to Calgary’s water system.
An emergency situation was declared following the break, and residents were issued instructions to boil water. Restrictions on indoor and outdoor water use remained in place for several weeks as the city worked to stabilise the system.
Second Break Occurred in December 2025
The feeder main suffered another major failure on December 30, 2025.
The rupture caused flooding in parts of northwest Calgary, including areas around 16 Avenue N.W.
Several vehicles became trapped in the water, and emergency crews were required to assist motorists affected by the flooding.
Following the second major failure, city officials accelerated plans to permanently replace the aging section of the feeder main.
Long-Term Solution for Calgary’s Water System
The replacement project is intended to provide a more reliable component of Calgary’s critical water infrastructure and reduce the risk of major disruptions caused by future feeder-main failures.
With approximately 80 per cent of the new pipeline already installed and most of the required construction materials on site, the city is now moving towards the remaining construction, connection, disinfection and testing stages.
Officials continue to target the end of 2026 for the new Bearspaw South Feeder Main to become part of Calgary’s regular water distribution system.
Temporary water restrictions will be required during the connection process, but the city says the measures are necessary to safely integrate the new pipeline and strengthen the reliability of Calgary’s water network.
