Calgary needs water conservation efforts to improve to avoid drinking water shortage: officials

globalnews.ca:

brought on by a massive water main break earlier in the week — still has no timeline to be resolved.“This current level of water use cannot continue … (or we will be) at risk of running out,” said Nancy Mackay, the City of Calgary’s water services director.“We must all further reduce our water use to effectively use our remaining water supply.”Mackay joined Susan Henry, the chief of the Calgary Emergency Management Agency, for a Friday morning news conference to provide an update on the water issue that first arose Wednesday night.On Thursday, Calgarians were asked to stop using water outdoors and do their best to minimize indoor water use.Both Mackay and Henry said Calgarians did a good job of conserving water for much of Thursday, but more conservation efforts were needed once people got home from work in the evening.“(That) took us back to a situation where we were using more water than we can produce,” Henry said.

“This trend cannot continue.”“Unfortunately, our consumption rose in the evening hours,” Mackay said, adding the water main damage that occurred Wednesday “cannot be repaired in a day or two.”City officials have described the broken feeder main as a “critical water transmission line.” They note the damage has “severely impacted” Calgary’s water supply and the ability to move water across the city.Mackay asked Calgarians to remember the spirit of unity and sacrifice that got the city through a devastating flood in 2013.“We need everyone to do their part,” she said, adding conservation efforts need to improve.When asked how quickly the city could run out of drinking water if conservation efforts do not improve, Mackay said it was difficult to project.“That all depends on what Calgarians do,” she said, noting