Road closed after after water main break in northwest Calgary

July 19, 2024 Canuck

Calgary emergency crews had to deal with a new water main break in the northwest community of Montgomery on Friday.

Calgary police said they shut down Bowness Road N.W. between 51st Street and Home Road on Friday afternoon after water began pooling onto the roadway at the intersection of 49th Street.

Traffic was diverted through a parking lot in the area, according to police, and a three-way stop was instituted at the affected intersection.

Carol Henke, public information officer for the Calgary Fire Department, told CBC News that crews were called to that location at around 4:15 p.m. for reports of a “water leak.”

a pool of muddy water in a parking lot by a road. — Water pools onto Bowness Road N.W. on Friday afternoon. (Helen Pike/CBC)

As of 6 p.m. on Friday, 14 homes and 10 businesses had been affected by the service disruption, according to the city.

Friday’s water main break occurred near the area where the Bearspaw south feeder main experienced a catastrophic failure on June 5 that continues to affect Calgary’s water supply.

“While the break is in the vicinity of the Bearspaw south feeder main, it is affecting a nearby pipe and not the feeder main itself,” a city spokesperson said in a statement emailed to CBC News.

We are aware of a water main break in the 5100 block of Bowness Road. <br><br>Water crews are on site and currently responding. While the break is in the vicinity of the Bearspaw South Feeder Main, it is affecting a nearby pipe and not the feeder main itself.

—@cityofcalgary

A news release from the City of Calgary sent after 7 p.m. on Friday evening noted that the rupture was “not on the feeder main itself, and it is not impacting the flow of water through the feeder main.”

“The break is located on a much smaller, 10-inch cast iron pipe that we have confirmed is not directly connected to the Bearspaw south feeder main,” reads the release.

The city says it is working to provide temporary water services — such as water wagons — because valves in the area have been shut off.

“The affected area is draining. Tonight we will work to find the exact location of the break. Repairs will begin tomorrow morning, and typically take 48 hours.”

The news release also states that the water remains safe to drink and this break does not affect the city’s ability to meet its water demand amid the ongoing supply issues.

Residents affected

Mike Neshine lives near the intersection that experienced the majority of the flooding. CBC News observed Neshine shovelling the water away from his home.

“Even if it’s contained to this area … it’s still a big issue,” he said.

a man shovels dirty water out of a parking lot. — Mike Neshine said he watched water pool quickly in a parking lot in front of his home. (Helen Pike/CBC)

Neshine said the water approached his basement from the parking lot and he began to move it away to prevent it from entering his home — and it’s not the first time he’s had to do this.

He says rain water from the parking lot has seeped into his basement furnace room before.

“There’s got to be some other issue that’s caused two of these [water main breaks] within the last couple months,” he said.

“They have to do a big, further investigation on it.”

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