CALGARY — A boil water advisory has been lifted in areas of Calgary near a major water main break as crews work to repair a pipe that normally supplies much of the city with drinking water.
Advice has been provided to nearly 3,000 people in Parkdale, Montgomery, Point Mackay and West Hillhurst since Dec. 30, when the Bear Spaw South Feeder Pipeline ruptured.
The city says testing, conducted in collaboration with Alberta Health Services and Alberta Environment and Protected Areas Services, confirms water in communities is in good condition.
However, it does say that anyone who has not opened their taps in the last 24 hours should flush their home's water supply before use.
Despite the lifting of the advisory, city officials say Calgarians must continue to conserve water to ensure demand does not outstrip supply.
Calgary's water use rose to 495 million liters on Saturday, which the city said exceeds its target of 485 million liters.
“The first Monday of 2026 is expected to mark a return to work and school for many Calgarians. We continue to remind everyone to adjust their water usage habits and help preserve our water supply,” Calgary Emergency Management Agency Administrator Susan Henry said in a Sunday news release.
The city also said traffic has reopened in the single eastbound lane on 16th Avenue NW east of Sarcee Trail NW. Access to 16 Avenue NW from Sarcy eastbound has also reopened.
Westbound traffic on 16th Avenue NW between 49th Street and Sarcee Trail NW remains closed.
The city also provided an update on water main repairs in a news release, saying crews had removed water from the area along 16th Avenue NW and excavated the damaged area.
The report said they are moving into the pipe removal phase of the renovation, which is expected to begin on Sunday.
This is the second time in a year and a half that a section of the Bearspaw South Feed Pipeline, which supplies 60 percent of the treated water for the city of 1.6 million people, has ruptured.
The latest breakthrough in the summer of 2024 led to months of water restrictions, advisories and a state of emergency.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 5, 2026.
