A robotic device used to assess a key Calgary water feeder main “stopped moving near the beginning of its inspection,” and crews plan to retrieve it this week, the City of Calgary said.
The City said it attempted to use a robotic PipeDiver last Thursday to complete a proactive condition assessment of the steel section of the Bearspaw South Feeder Main.
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Attempts to get the device “swimming” again were unsuccessful, the City said.
The City said operation of the feeder main “is not affected” and there are “no impacts to our ability to supply water to Calgary and the region.”
The City said it does not anticipate any water restrictions will be required as the work continues.
The inspection was intended to assess the condition of a section of pipe running from the Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant to the 33 Avenue N.W. pump station.
According to the City, that section is made of steel and was not inspected at the same time as prestressed concrete cylinder pipe segments assessed in 2024.
The PipeDiver uses ultrasonic technology to measure pipe wall thickness while travelling through a water-filled pipe.
The City said assessment of the section “remains important,” and it is evaluating options to complete the inspection at a later date after incorporating learnings from the first launch.
In a prior notice, the City said the inspection was expected to take about two hours to cover a two-kilometre section of pipe, with results anticipated within a month.
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