Calgary pipe woes flag ‘dire need’ for infrastructure upgrades: municipalities group
Global News
Most restrictions in Calgary had been lifted when Mayor Jyoti Gondek announced an analysis had found more trouble spots along 10 kilometres of pipe in northwest Calgary.
The condition of infrastructure across the country is dire and action needs to be taken now to prevent the kind of massive water pipe break that continues to plague Alberta’s biggest city, says the president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
Geoff Stewart was in Calgary as part of the federation’s annual general meeting in June when the break occurred, leading to months of water restrictions and other onerous measures.
Montrealers woke to their own infrastructure failure Friday when a break in a major underground water main near the Jacques Cartier Bridge unleashed what nearby residents described as a “wall of water.” Streets and homes were deluged, forcing the evacuation of nearby buildings and leading to a boil-water advisory for 150,000 homes.
“Infrastructure across this country is in dire need of upgrades and work done,” said Stewart.
“Our infrastructure is aging across this country. It’s getting to a crisis where we’re going to have to do some very extensive work on infrastructure from one end to another.”
Most restrictions in Calgary had been lifted earlier this month when Mayor Jyoti Gondek announced an analysis had found more trouble spots along 10 kilometres of pipe in northwest Calgary.
The line is to be shut down starting Aug. 26 until late September so it can be dug up and reinforced with concrete in those areas. Water restrictions are making a comeback, including a ban on watering lawns and a request for shorter showers and fewer laundry loads.
Stewart’s group has released a report that aims to make the case for a “municipal growth framework” that would change federal and provincial funding formulas so municipalities have more money to work with.
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