Water main break repairs halted due to worker injuries, says Calgary mayor

Work to fix a critical water main break that triggered water restrictions across the city has been stalled after two workers suffered injuries on the work site Wednesday night, Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek said during her 8:30 a.m. update Thursday.

"Our hearts are heavy with the news of these injuries this morning," Gondek said. 

The workers, a city employee and a contractor, were taken to hospital after they suffered injuries at around 10 p.m. There are no details on their injuries, however neither is in critical condition.

Alberta Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is working with the city to investigate, the mayor said. Work on the feeder main will not resume until later Thursday afternoon at the earliest.

In a statement, OHS said it is aware of the incident and is responding to the repair site.

"It is tragic whenever a worker is hurt on the job. Our goal is focused on having all workers return home safely after every workday," the statement reads.

"As this is an active file, no further information will be provided."

The Bearspaw south water main, which is 11 kilometres long and as wide as two metres in parts, suffered a break on June 5 that temporarily left hundreds of homes and businesses in the city's northwest without water.

In an update on Wednesday — a week after the main failed — officials told Calgarians they can expect water restrictions to continue into the middle of next week. 

The city did not say how long of a delay the work stoppage would cause.

Gondek said water consumption has crept up again, this time by nine million litres, taking the city far above the safe threshold. 

"I now must ask you to do more on your water conservation to support those that are working to restore our safe water supply," Gondek said Thursday.

Water supply is also lower than it has been over the past few days. 

WATCH | Mayor Jyoti Gondek shares 'difficult news' on the water main break repairs: