Calgary Stampede will go on as planned amid water crisis

After acatastrophic water feeder main break cut Calgaryoff from 60 per cent of its treated water supply on June 5, the portion of the pipe that ruptured was fully repaired over the weekend. Now, the city's focus is on repairing the five hot spots that were identified after robots were sent through the pipe to inspect it.

The City of Calgary closed two new sections of 16th Avenue N.W. at midnight on Monday.

CBC News has learned that all five hot spots are located within thosetwo new closed areas which are belowBowness Road and 43rd Street N.W., and45th and 46th streets N.W., respectively.

Mayor Jyoti Gondek said in her Monday morning update on the city's ongoing water disruptions thatrepairs on thosefive hot spots have commenced andwill be worked onat the same time.

Stampedewill go on

On Monday afternoon, city officials confirmed the ongoing stress on Calgary's water supply won't impact the Calgary Stampede, which is set to take place July 5 to 14.

"I'm grateful to all of you who have taken these actions to heart. I also want to assure you that fun is not cancelled. The summer is not cancelled. Festivals and events are important to our city," saidCalgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) acting chief, Coby Duerr.

"Similar to the 2013 floods, the 2024 Stampede won't be cancelled. It just might look a little different."

Joel Cowley, CEO of the Calgary Stampede, saysit's "very important" that the Stampede continue amid the water crisis, citing community and economic impacts.

"The show will go on, and it will go on in a very responsible manner," Cowley said during the Monday afternoon briefing.

WATCH | 'Fun is not cancelled,' says official. Calgary Stampede to continue as planned:

City provides update on Calgary's water main break

2 months ago

Duration 39:53

City officials provide an update on major water main break affecting Calgary's water supply.

He says city officials and Calgary Stampede partners met over the weekendto identify areas where the annual, 10-day event could conserve potable water, and that the festival will be able to alter the way some processes are done in order to limit usage.

"I doubt we'll be washing the grandstand seating that often."

Gondek said the city is confident it can host the influx of people visiting for the Stampede because the city was able to handle the over 3,000 delegates who just visited for the three-day-long Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) conference thattook place in Calgary from June 6 to 9.

"Calgary is open to visitors, and we look forward to welcoming them in a responsible, safe and sustainable way," said Tourism Calgary president and CEO, Alisha Reynolds.

Help from other municipalities,energy experts

Over the weekend,two roundtables were held with energysector experts and the city's operations team. Two more of these roundtable sessions will be held, says the mayor.

"Collaborating with experts behind the scenes has been incredibly beneficial to us."

The mayor also says the city has now engaged with six private companies: Standard General,Volker Stevin, Whissell Contracting, LBCOContracting, Associated Engineering and Pure Technologies.

The city says it has contacted various municipalities across North America in order to secure the parts needed to repair the pipe.

"Those parts are either on their way or they are already here," said Gondek.

While the three- to five-week time-frame for repairs remains, Gondek says the heavy-duty equipment needed for the repairs would be arriving Monday.

"We knew we had to take a bold approach to get this pipe fixed," she said.

New low for weekend water consumption

After declaring a state of local emergencyon Saturday,city officials continue urging residents to use less water.

Gondeksays the city has been in touch with more than 700 commercial users to ask them to lower their water consumption.

However, the focus still remains on individual water users, as Gondek says residents make up roughly two-thirds of the city's water use.

She saysone fewer toilet flush per household could save the city roughly 12.5 million litres of water.

But on Monday morning, she thanked Calgarians and residents of surrounding communities such asTsuut'ina Nation, Strathmore, Airdrie and Chestermere for limiting their water use.

According to the mayor, consumption over the weekend lowered.

Just 438 million litres were consumed on Saturday, and 439 million litres on Sunday. Gondek says the threshold for consumptionthat the city must remain below is480 million litres.

She says usage exceeded that threshold last Wednesday.

The mayor says that, after consulting with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, Municipal Affairs Minister RicMcIver andCalgary's emergency management team, declaring a state of local emergency was a "necessary step."

LISTEN | Calgary's mayor discusses businesses and water consumption:

Calgary Eyeopener8:42The latest on the water main break

Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek is with us to discuss the latest on Calgary's water crisis.

In an interview with the Calgary Eyeopener before her morning briefing, Gondek told CBC Radio host Loren McGinnis that many businesses have been doing their part in terms of water consumption.

Also on Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau saidin a post made to X that he had spoken with Gondekabout Calgary's ongoing water issues.

Stage 4 water restrictions and a citywide fire ban remain in place, as well as multiple road closures along 16th AvenueN.W.

As of Monday afternoon, city officials say two violation tickets for water use have been issued.Four violation tickets have been issued in response to the fire ban.

Hundreds of written and verbal warnings have been issued by bylaw officers.