(Calgary) Calgary residents were urged Friday to continue to reduce their water consumption as repair work on a major water main extended into a second day.
“The current water level cannot continue,” said Nancy Mackay, director of water services for the city. If we don’t reduce our water consumption even further, we risk running out of water. »
One area of the city remained under a boil water advisory. A citywide fire ban was in effect.
All Calgarians have been asked to reduce their water consumption by a quarter of what they consumed the day before.
Outdoor water use, such as washing cars or watering plants, has been banned. Citizens have been asked to shorten their showers, not do dishes or laundry and only flush toilets when necessary.
“We all need to further reduce our water consumption,” said Ms.me Mackay.
The water warning was initially issued Thursday. Officials said there was a significant reduction in water consumption until the afternoon, but it increased by the time most people returned from work.
They said the amount of water consumed exceeded what the city could produce, which could harm services such as firefighting.
The city sent nine tanker cars to the Bowness neighborhood in the northwest of the city, where residents were asked to boil tap water for at least a minute before using it.
Emergency Management Agency head Sue Henry said bylaw officers responded to 56 reports of water misuse and nine fire-related calls.
Businesses have been asked to stop using water for non-essential services. Hospitals, restaurants and businesses that use water to provide vital products or services or to meet health code standards were exempt.
No mandatory measures have been imposed on businesses.
The scale of this disruption is considered unprecedented.
Nancy Mackay said crews pumped water from the flooded area to expose the break for repairs.
“The goal today is to expose the portion of the water main that we believe is damaged and prepare the site location. This is a massive breakdown that cannot be repaired in a day or two,” she noted.
“We need everyone to do their part. »
Normally, the city has between one and a half and two days’ worth of water in its reservoir system.