Calgary mayor wants wide survey of water lines after catastrophic break

Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek has promised a wide-ranging examination of the city's underground infrastructure as the city enters its third week of water use restrictions after a catastrophic pipeline break.

The mayor says she's going to ask city council next week to ensure there's enough of a budget to run a thorough inspection of the state of all underground water pipes.

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"I'm going to be asking important questions to find out what we need in the budget, so we have the technology and inspection methods that are needed to understand the type of state our water infrastructure is in."

Gondek said she will be "calling in all favours" from the provincial and federal governments to make sure the job gets done.

The city is also in the process of striking a panel to conduct a third-party review of how the situation has been handled.

"The review going to be guided by an expert panel from academia, the water industry, water utilities management and government entities," said Michael Thompson, general manager of infrastructure for the city, at Friday afternoon's city news update.

"Our team has already been meeting with industry associations and other municipalities to start to figure out who will form the panel."

Since the pipe break on June 5, Calgarians have been asked to reduce their water use by a quarter as repairs are conducted to the main, which carried 60 per cent of the city's water.

Those restrictions were extended after repair crews found another five spots in the pipe that were nearing failure.

WATCH | Mayor, city officials update Calgarians on water main repairs:

City provides update on water main break

3 months ago

Duration 26:04

City officials provide an update on the major water main break affecting Calgary's water supply.

Two workers were injured, with one remaining under a doctor's care and the other back on the job.

Gondek has said the repair work could be finished as early as July 5, the opening day of the Calgary Stampede.

She has also warned that the repairs could take longer.

She has said the city is in talks with surrounding communities to truck in water for both crowds and livestock at the annual fair and rodeo.

The city also announced on Friday that it hadrenewed its state of local emergency for an additional week.

Emergency management agency chief SueHenry said renewing the state of emergency gives the city the ability to access additional resources more quickly should they be needed.