The damaged section of a water pipe is shown in this handout image provided by the City of Calgary. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-City of Calgary
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CALGARY – Calgarians stepped up over the weekend to reduce their water use after a major water main break last week.
Mayor Jyoti Gondek said Monday the city used about 30 per cent less water than it did before the break happened.
“I’m incredibly impressed at how well Calgarians have done,” she said.
Calgary was put under a water emergency after the major feeder main in the city’s northwest fractured Wednesday night.
On Sunday, the city of 1.6 million used 457 million litres of water. On Wednesday, before the break, it used 650 million litres.
That’s an even steeper cut than the 25 per cent Gondek called for last week.
Gondek suggested residents flush the toilet five fewer times each day and turn off their showers between soaping up and rinsing down.
“These are the kind of measures that we have used when we have been camping,” she said. “Maybe go back to those memories.”
Water restrictions could still be in place for several days as the repairs are expected to take some time.
One neighbourhood is also under a boil-water advisory.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 10, 2024.
