A major water infrastructure project in Calgary received a boost from Ottawa on Tuesday, as federal and city officials announced a $29-million contribution to the North Calgary Water Servicing Project.
Corey Hogan, the Liberal MP for Calgary-Confederation, announced the federal funding alongside Mayor Jeromy Farkas at the Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant, where the future feeder main will eventually connect.
“The ability to turn on a tap and receive drinkable water is a miracle of modern civilization that’s become absolutely mundane most of the time,” Hogan said. “But as Calgarians, we unfortunately know too well that it’s not always mundane. It’s mundane until reliability and availability are challenged, and I am just so glad that working with the city and with today’s announcement, we’re able to bring a little more mundane into the lives of Calgarians.”
The funding comes from the federal government’s Build Communities Strong Fund.
The North Calgary Water Servicing Project envisions a new, 22-kilometre steel water feeder main on the city’s northwest border, complemented by 10 support facilities, including pump stations and reservoirs.
The northwest feeder main project is separate from the Bearspaw South feeder main replacement, though both are happening concurrently, and both have the shared goal of adding redundancy and capacity to Calgary’s water distribution network.
Corey Hogan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Calgary Confederation, announces funding at the Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant in Calgary on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026.
While the project’s total budget is $533 million, the first phase is expected to cost $123 million, with the city on the hook for $94 million.
Earlier this year, city council increased borrowing authority by more than $500 million to help finance several of Calgary’s water system and infrastructure upgrades, including the North Calgary Water Servicing Project. City officials hinted at the time the self-supported debt will be repaid over time through future water rate and levy increases, with metered households using 19 cubic metres of water per month expected to see their bills go up by $17 monthly, starting next year.
Multiple projects planned for Calgary’s water infrastructure
The feeder main will begin north of the Bearspaw plant near Stoney Trail and Nose Hill Drive, and cross under Crowchild Trail up to 144th Avenue N.W., where it will connect to an existing feeder main at 14th Street N.W.
Construction began last fall, and nearly seven kilometres of pipeline have been installed as part of the first phase of construction. Crews are also upgrading the Top Hill Reservoir, Big Hill East Reservoir and the Mountain View Pump Station.
This first section of the transmission line will add 30 million litres daily to the city’s water distribution capacity and is expected to be in service by early next year, according to the head of the city’s water utility.
Corey Hogan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Calgary Confederation, announces funding at the Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant in Calgary on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026.
“This is a great first step in delivering increases in infrastructure for Calgarians, to move more water to Calgarians, (and) provide additional redundancy so that if we do have issues, Calgarians have backups in place that they can rely on,” said water utility chief operating officer Michael Thompson.
At full build-out by late 2029, the feeder main is expected to deliver 100 million litres daily of treated water from the Bow River to existing and future communities in the northwest, Thompson added. This will go up to 410 million litres per day after Calgary builds a third water treatment plant, which is expected to be built next to the Bearspaw plant.
‘A critical investment’
While the North Calgary Water Servicing Project was not included in city council’s recent federal budget submissions sent to Ottawa this summer, Farkas called Ottawa’s contribution “a critical investment” to improving Calgary’s water infrastructure.
“We’re hoping to be able to leverage that as well to be able to demonstrate to the provincial government that a strong Calgary can help contribute to a vibrant economy and great quality of life,” he said. “Not just for Calgarians who live here today, but future generations, and not just for the city of Calgary but also the broader region that depends on investment.”
Mayor Jeromy Farkas speaks at a federal funding announcement at the Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant in Calgary on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026.
The steel pipe being used in the project is 1.6 metres in diameter and was sourced from Mexico, Thompson said, noting project leaders and the city’s procurement team are working to shelter the construction project from U.S.-imposed tariffs.
Repeating a recent PSA from Farkas, Thompson said upcoming electrical work on a pump station will require the Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant to be shut down for up to a week in mid-September, which may result in temporary outdoor water restrictions. He said that will depend on weather and Calgary’s water use and demand at the time.
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