City of Calgary authorities have pinpointed the location of a second significant water main break in the northwest area within a span of less than two years. This incident, labeled as “catastrophic” based on the city’s risk assessment, occurred near the CPKC rail bridge close to 69th Street N.W. Emergency responders, including firefighters and police, were dispatched on Tuesday evening to address the substantial flooding resulting from the breach.
Thirteen individuals were rescued from eight vehicles stranded in the floodwaters, including Josh Podulsky, who witnessed the road “exploding” and a sudden surge of water engulfing the area. Podulsky, who had to be rescued by firefighters after his vehicle was submerged, highlighted the dramatic nature of the event.
The water main break affected the Bearspaw south feeder main, the same line that ruptured in 2024, with the incident occurring along 16th Avenue. The city confirmed that the break involved a pipe segment installed in 1975 and not part of the replacement received from San Diego following the previous rupture.
Following the break, water service was cut off in the affected vicinity, leading to boil-water advisories issued for sections of Parkdale, Montgomery, Point McKay, and West Hillhurst. The city urged residents to conserve water by limiting usage, while water wagons were deployed to assist affected communities.
The city emphasized the need for drainage, repair, and testing of the water system to ensure safety before lifting the boil-water advisory. While the timeline for repairs was estimated at seven to 10 days, further inspections were deemed necessary to assess the extent of the damage.
Mayor Jeromy Farkas acknowledged the impact on homes and businesses and stressed the importance of taking proactive measures to prevent future incidents. He emphasized the urgency of implementing recommendations from an independent review of the 2024 incident to avert similar crises in the future.
Furthermore, the authorities highlighted the challenges posed by winter conditions, which increase the likelihood of such incidents due to soil fluctuations around the pipes. Despite ongoing monitoring efforts, the unexpected nature of the recent break underscores the need for continuous vigilance and preventive measures to safeguard the city’s water infrastructure.