Calgarians appeared to heed Mayor Jyoti Gondek’s appeals to reduce water use ahead of the Canada Day long weekend as consumption fell by 40 million litres Friday.
Gondek said water use dropped to 460 million litres, a day after stating it appeared residents had “given up” on their conservation efforts.
“Today, you can add another win to your list. You answered the call to action and dramatically dropped your water usage,” the mayor said Saturday morning.
Water use reached 500 million litres Thursday — the most since mandatory and voluntary restrictions were enacted June 6 — leading Gondek to suggest some had stopped trying to save water.
“It feels a little bit like some of you have given up, Calgary,” she said Friday afternoon. “The idea that some of you have given up on conserving water just goes against everything that I know Calgarians to be.”
City officials have set a daily target of 450 million litres, about 25 per cent below normal demand.
Calgary Emergency Management Agency Chief Sue Henry said Thursday’s water use exceeded the maximum daily threshold of 480 million litres and put the city’s water system in a “vulnerable state.”
Work to restore the ruptured feeder main to full service continued near Edworthy Park on Saturday.
Flushing of the repaired pipe continued after it was filled with 14 million litres of water Friday. Water samples are to be tested by Alberta Health Services once the flushing process is completed.
City officials have said the system could be fully restored by Monday, with the easing of restrictions to follow.
The final stage would involve increasing water flow in the feeder main to normal levels.
“When we know the system is stable after turning the pressure back up, that’s when we will advise you that the network is restored and you can begin leaving those water-saving efforts behind,” Gondek said Saturday.