CALGARY – The City of Calgary is grappling with a critical water supply shortage following a “catastrophic” break in the Bearspaw South Feeder Main, the primary pipeline responsible for delivering approximately 60 percent of the city’s treated water. The rupture occurred on December 30, 2025, near 16 Avenue N.W., leading to an immediate drop in water reserves and prompting Mayor Jeromy Farkas to issue a stark warning to the city’s 1.6 million residents. Mayor Farkas described the aging infrastructure as a “ticking time bomb” and cautioned that if water consumption does not drop to sustainable levels, the city could enter “loss-of-life territory,” where the ability of fire and emergency services to respond to crises would be severely compromised.
While the boil-water advisory previously issued for the neighborhoods of Montgomery, Parkdale, Point McKay, and West Hillhurst was lifted on Sunday after successful water quality testing, the city remains under Stage 4 water restrictions. Officials have released footage showing the removal of the massive, damaged section of the pipe as repair crews work around the clock. Although current repairs are expected to be completed as early as next week, authorities estimate that the broader vulnerability of the system will require at least two years of intensive infrastructure projects and parallel line construction to permanently resolve. For now, Calgarians are being urged to limit showers to under three minutes, skip unnecessary toilet flushes, and delay using dishwashers and washing machines to ensure the city maintains enough water for essential services.
