Calgary unveils plan to act on feeder main panel recommendations with costs unknown

Calgary's executive committee voted 13-2 to forward a 27-action implementation plan responding to the 2024 Bearspaw feeder main failure and the independent panel's findings of systemic issues; total costs are not yet known and city council will consider the plan on Feb. 17.

City officials have presented a multi-stage plan to implement recommendations from an independent panel that reviewed the 2024 failure of the Bearspaw feeder main. The panel reported systemic issues in how the water utility was managed over about two decades. The city’s executive committee voted 13-2 to forward a 27-action plan that runs through 2027, but the full cost of implementing those actions has not yet been determined. City council is scheduled to consider the plan on Feb. 17. Key points: - An independent panel reviewed the June 2024 Bearspaw feeder main failures and reported long-running management and maintenance issues. - The proposed implementation plan contains 27 actions across four stages, intended to stabilize the system and change governance through to 2027. - The executive committee approved forwarding the plan by a 13-2 vote; two councillors opposed. - Administration seeks $3 million for preparatory governance work and has proposed transferring $50 million to a utility sustainment reserve; broader implementation costs will be detailed later. - City council will be asked to approve the plan on Feb. 17, and a further funding request is expected in March. Summary: The plan aims to address identified gaps in water system maintenance and governance and to begin short-term work this year while longer-term structural changes are planned through 2027. The overall financial implications remain unclear at this time, and the immediate next steps are a council vote on Feb. 17 and a detailed funding request to follow in March.