Alberta to review Calgary water system after feeder main break

Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams has directed a provincial review of Calgary's water system after the Bearspaw feeder main ruptured on Dec. 30, 2025, and has requested city documents by Jan. 27 under the Municipal Government Act.

Alberta's provincial government has launched its own review of Calgary's water system following a rupture of the Bearspaw feeder main at the end of December 2025. The line's failure was the second similar break in under two years and drew attention to long‑running questions about how the city's water infrastructure is planned and managed. Minister Dan Williams sent a letter to Mayor Jeromy Farkas using powers under the Municipal Government Act to request extensive records. City officials say they are restoring service but cannot guarantee the pipe will not fail again. Key facts: - The Bearspaw south feeder main ruptured on Dec. 30, 2025; it was the second break of that feeder in less than two years. - City crews are gradually bringing the feeder main back into service, and officials have stated they cannot guarantee it will not break again. - Minister Dan Williams has directed city administration to provide documentation related to water main asset management, including records going back to the 2004 McKnight feeder main break, under the Municipal Government Act. - An independent panel report released last week reported systemic gaps over about two decades in how Calgary's water infrastructure was planned, managed and overseen. Summary: The provincial review was announced amid ongoing repairs to the Bearspaw feeder main and public concern about the city's capacity to sustain water services. The minister has requested the specified documentation by Jan. 27, and the city has signalled it will co‑ordinate a structured submission in response.