A major water main break in Bowness on Friday has left about 50 nearby homes without water, say city officials.
But while it’s triggered emergency measures, the rupture isn’t related to recent problems with the Bearspaw South feeder main that have plagued the area twice in less than two years.
The break occurred Friday morning at 6148 Bowness Road N.W. east of the area’s main business district.
“City crews are working to complete repairs as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding while this repair is underway,” stated a social media post from the city.
Water wagons are being made available to affected residents, said the city.
At the scene of the break, there was no water flowing overland but city crews were preparing to dig up what appeared to be a section of Bowness Road to repair the rupture. Traffic in Bowness Rd. is expected to be re-routed.
One area resident said the water pipe has broken several times in the past number of years.
Bowness residents are no strangers to major water main problems, particularly since 2024.
Residents and businesses in Bowness and Montgomery were impacted by a rupture of the Bearspaw South feeder main on 16th Avenue near Sarcee Trail on Dec. 30 of last year. Several motorists were were rescued or scrambled from the fast-rising waters when the line erupted.
Work to reinforce the pipe last winter led to nearly a month of city-wide water restrictions has also affected the area.
That followed the June, 2024 rupture of the same line on 16 Ave. near Home Road that led to weeks of water rationing and disruptions to traffic, business and residents in both Montgomery and Bowness. Residents in Bowness were forced to use water wagons in the days and boil their water immediately following the break.
The pipe, which is five decades old and badly deteriorated, supplies 60 per cent of Calgary’s water.