One year ago, June 5, 2024, one of the most impactful crises in Calgary’s history occurred with the Bearspaw south feeder water main break in the Ward 1 northwest community of Montgomery. The break caused multiple road closures in Montgomery and Bowness, as well as water restrictions that affected all areas of the city. An investigation last November, led by Associated Engineering, found the break resulted from a loss of structural integrity due to extensive damage to the pipe’s prestress wires, which are wrapped under tension around the pipe’s concrete core. More recently, the city announced a panel of experts had been assembled to review all aspects of the break, with a report due before the end of 2025. To reflect on the effects of the break, residents and community leaders in Bowness and Montgomery joined Ward 1 Cllr. Sonya Sharp on Thursday at the site of the break, calling for a serious commitment to modernizing Calgary’s aging water infrastructure. “One year ago, near this very spot, Calgary experienced one of the worst infrastructure failures in the city’s history,” said Sharp. “One piece of pipe burst and triggered a city-wide emergency. One and a half million Calgarians were placed under water restrictions for months.” .“What concerns me is that we still haven’t seen a full, costed plan to restore the integrity of our water system, or public confidence in how it’s managed. It’s not just about fixing one pipe. This was a failure in how the system has been managed over decades, by successive councils.” While the entire city was affected, Sharp says the Bowness community was hit the hardest. “I’ll never forget seeing a mother pushing a stroller; not with her child, but with water jugs to make her baby’s formula. That image stays with me,” she said. “It was a moment that revealed both the vulnerabilities in our system and the extraordinary strength of Calgarians.” Bowness resident Christina Pilarski recalls Sharp as showing up every day to see what she could do to help. “As a lifelong Calgarian and Bowness resident, I can say with full confidence that Councillor Sonya Sharp was the only city official who consistently showed up for our community during and after the feeder main break,” said Pilarski Thursday morning. “She wasn’t just present, she was active, visible, and determined to get us answers. Sonya rolled up her sleeves and stayed grounded in the reality we were living through, especially on 33rd Ave where the impact was most severe.” .Sharp said Calgary loses more than 20% of its treated water due to leaky infrastructure; one of the highest rates in Canada. “Imagine throwing 20% of your water bill into the street. That’s what we’re doing, wasting precious water and taxpayer dollars,” she said. “We don’t even fully understand the scale of the problem. And council still hasn’t received a plan to fix it.” She alluded to delays and vague responses from city administration, and a council majority unwilling to push for firm timelines or accountability. “Every time we ask for answers, we hear ‘We’re working on it. We’ve got it under control.’ And every time we raise it with council, we hear: ‘Let’s move on.’ That needs to change,” she said. “And it will change if Calgarians elect a Communities First majority in October.” Sharp is in the race for the mayor’s chair in the October election and said, if elected, she would direct city administration to devise a plan for the safety of the city’s water supply. "My colleagues and I will direct administration to deliver a full water infrastructure plan, including budgets and timelines, so it can be built into the next four-year budget,” she said. “No more excuses. No more finger-pointing. It’s our job to fix this.” Kellie Freeman, executive director of the Bowness Business Improvement Area, acknowledged the resilience of the business community and the importance of continued advocacy. .“Last year’s water feeder main break in Bowness brought serious disruption to residents and businesses, many of whom faced unexpected closures, revenue loss and uncertainty,” said Freeman. “Councillor Sharp and the community of Bowness showed our resiliency by rallying together to ensure water reached seniors, families and anyone in need.” Now, a year later, road closures and ongoing maintenance serve as a reminder of the incident. “Concerns of aging infrastructure within Bowness remain, and the community would like to see meaningful improvements be made in the very near future. Not just to repair, but to strengthen Bowness moving forward,” said Sharp. “We're about ten years behind in our infrastructure and the water feeder break is an example of that.” “There wasn’t enough time and attention paid by councils over the past years in councils to our growing city.”
