The City of Calgary says water testing is now underway on the Bearspaw South Feeder Main as crews prepare to restart the system as early as Tuesday.
Related Stories:
The city said the pipe began refilling Friday and that step was completed Sunday afternoon.
Water sampling and testing are ongoing to ensure drinking water meets regulatory standards.
If test results confirm the water is safe, the city said crews plan to begin opening valves and restarting pumps at the Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant on Tuesday morning.
Customers across the system may notice cloudy water once pumps restart, but the water will remain safe to drink and the cloudiness will be temporary.
The city said it will continue monitoring the pipe and water system throughout the restart process.
Water restrictions could be lifted once the system is stable, as early as Thursday, April 2. The city said work will pause if any issues arise.
Reinforcement work improved stability in nine pipe segments in the worst condition.
The feeder main remains in poor condition and at risk of another break, particularly during pressure changes such as pump restarts.
Precautionary measures remain in place in areas closest to the feeder main in case of another break.
In January, the city removed two segments of flood barrier along Montgomery Boulevard N.W. to allow water from a potential break to flow to the river.
Temporary barriers near the Bow River pathway by Parkdale Boulevard N.W. remain in place.
Catch basins and river outflows have been cleared and drainage improvements made ahead of restarting pumps.
Pumps and equipment are prepared for rapid response, and crews are working with first responders.
Water use remains within the “green zone,” with 500 million litres used Sunday, including about 12 million litres needed to finish filling the pipe.
An inspection of the feeder main is scheduled for April 9 to 11 using a device known as a pipe diver.
The tool will travel through the pipe and require a brief shutdown of water flow for removal, followed by additional testing before pumps restart.
The city said it does not expect additional water restrictions will be required if the inspection proceeds as planned.
No further restrictions are planned until fall, when another shutdown will be needed to connect a new pipe to the system. The city said the risk of a break remains until that work is complete.
The city said continued water conservation remains critical as crews complete the final stages of the work.
DiscoverAirdrie encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the DiscoverAirdrie app