Calgary Councillors Prepare for Independent Review of Water Main Break

Calgary city councillors are set to receive an independent review regarding the rupture of the Bearspaw feeder main, which occurred in early 2024. The report is expected to be delivered on the evening of January 13, 2024, following a second break in the same water line last week. This review, led by Siegfried W. Kiefer, a former executive and board member at ATCO, aims to uncover the causes of the break and suggest preventative measures for the city’s water infrastructure.

The independent panel, consisting of five members, has been tasked with a comprehensive examination of various aspects of Calgary’s utility infrastructure. This includes operations and maintenance of the water utility, risk management, planning, design, and governance. Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas emphasized the importance of transparency regarding the findings, stating, “We are working collectively to get this out to the public as soon as humanly possible.”

Despite the upcoming release of the report, Ward 14 Councillor Landon Johnston has voiced concerns regarding the panel’s independence. Johnston highlighted his apprehensions in a recent social media post, questioning the integrity of the review process. He stated, “People want answers on this, and the more they come out with half answers, the more questions we’re going to have.”

The concerns were sparked by an email from Kiefer sent to councillors and the mayor on January 6, in which he explained that the panel needed additional time to finalize the report. Although he indicated that the report would be ready by Tuesday instead of Thursday, Johnston remains skeptical about the panel’s autonomy. Kiefer reassured recipients that the panel is committed to delivering an accurate and complete report.

In response to Johnston’s inquiries, Kiefer highlighted his dedication to maintaining the panel’s independence. He stated, “I and our entire panel have been, and remain, completely committed to maintaining the absolute independence of our review work and our report.” In a statement on January 8, Mayor Farkas defended the panel’s integrity, clarifying that the request for more time originated from the panel and not city administration.

City administration did receive an incomplete draft of the report for fact-checking purposes, which raised further concerns for Johnston. Michael Thompson, general manager of Calgary’s Infrastructure Services, clarified that the information provided was purely factual and not an attempt to influence the report’s findings. “We are not editing the report, it is not our report, it is an independent panel report,” he stated.

A previous report from the City of Calgary, released in November 2024, indicated multiple factors contributing to the feeder main rupture. These included microcracking in the protective plaster, corrosion-related wire breakage, and elevated chloride levels in the surrounding soil. Kerry Black, a civil engineering professor at the University of Calgary, expressed skepticism regarding the likelihood of the review identifying a singular cause for the failure. “It’s not one thing that contributes to infrastructure failure; it’s a series of events and factors that lead to catastrophic failures,” she explained.

Regardless of the findings, Mayor Farkas assured reporters that city officials would act on the panel’s recommendations, stating that they would address both the positive and negative aspects of the report. “The good, the bad and the ugly,” he added, emphasizing the need for Calgarians to have confidence in their water system. As the city awaits the findings, the focus remains on ensuring accountability and transparency in Calgary’s utility management.