After several days of using over 500 million litres of water, Saturday saw a reduction to 496.

The city provides a regular update on the water situation. Carolyn Bowen, Calgary’s director of climate and environment, stated on Sunday afternoon that this level of demand places the city in the “yellow zone,” indicating a strained water plant system while the main feeder line is out of service for major repairs.

When demand ranges between 485 and 500 million litres, which is our yellow zone, the plant works harder and preventive maintenance operations become more difficult to accomplish, raising the chance of an operational breakdown,” Bowen explained during the afternoon broadcast.

The city would like to see consumption levels in the “green zone,” which means less than the target of 485 million litres per day. According to Bowen, this ensures the Glenmore Water Treatment Plant’s safe and sustainable operations. With the Bearspaw feeder main out of operation, the Glenmore facility produces roughly 70% of the city’s water supply. Normally, at this time of year, the figure would be 30%, with Bearspaw generating the remainder. Bowen congratulated Calgary residents for moving consumption levels out of the “red zone,” where they had been for much of the previous week.

When we hit the red zone — above 500 — we risk not being able to meet demand, and it becomes progressively difficult to recover water storage in our subterranean storage tanks,” she explained. Calgary has had Stage 4 outdoor water use restrictions since August 26. This means that no potable water is permitted outside the home. For further information on what is and is not permitted under Stage 4 regulations, please see the city’s website.

As of Sunday, Bowen reported that 26 fines had been issued for breaching the city’s outside water restrictions. The fine for a ticket is $3,000. She stated that repairs to the main water feeder main are still on schedule, with 12 of the 21 pipe segments repaired.