Five years after the 2013 Southern Alberta flood, Calgarians demonstrate resiliency

Five years ago, heavy rains fell on a melting snowpack upstream of our city, sending water rushing towards Calgary and other Southern Alberta communities. City officials issued a flood warning, declared a state of emergency and gave an evacuation notice for communities at risk. Evacuees and citizens whose homes and businesses were flooded faced trauma and loss.

Mike Eberhard, Kim Myers and Kathryn Hatch experienced flooding and evacuation. What they also have in common is a strong connection to their communities and their homes, and the desire to find a way to manage future flood risks.

After they completed work to remove the flood debris from their properties, they decided they were going to take steps to ensure if another flood happened, they would be prepared. Watch their exceptional stories to learn what actions they took, demonstrating remarkable determination and resiliency.

Building flood-resilient communities is a top priority for the City of Calgary. We cannot prevent river flooding but we are working with citizens, and our provincial and federal partners to reduce its impact. Together with the Province, we have committed more than $150-million towards projects that have reduced our risk of river flood damage by approximately one-third since 2013. We are working towards full implementation of our strategy, which includes a combination of measures at the property-, community- and watershed-level that all work together to protect Calgary against another flood the size of 2013.

Citizens have a critical role to play in preparing for river flooding and protecting their property. Calgary is most at risk of river flooding from May 15 to July 15. River flooding impacts all Calgarians – whether you live, work, commute or recreate along the Bow or Elbow Rivers, or in the city centre – it’s important for every Calgarian to understand their flood risk, be prepared and stay informed. Citizens can learn more at calgary.ca/floodinfo, search their address online to see if they are at risk from flooding, sign up for our bi-weekly flood readiness e-newsletter, download our Flood Readiness Guide and learn how to prepare a 72-hour emergency kit.

Improving stormwater drainage in SW Calgary

We’re improving stormwater drainage in Woodlands, Woodbine, Cedarbrae, Braeside, Palliser and Pump Hill. In recent years, these areas have had an unusually high number of heavy rainfall events resulting in flooding. To better manage this stormwater, we are upgrading infrastructure across the southwest and installing dry and wet ponds.

Major improvements

• A new dry pond at Southland Drive & Braeside Drive SW (March – August 2018) 
• A new underground storm trunk in the median of 24th Street SW (June 2018 – Nov 2018) 
• A new storm pond constructed in Bebo Grove day use area (2019 – June 2020) 

Secondary improvements (August 2018 & July/August 2019)

• Proposed installation of inlet control devices (ICD’s) 
• Replacement or upgrade of catch basins and manholes 
• Storm sewer diversions 
• Improvement of overland spill routes in the local neighborhood

New 24^th street storm trunk diversion details

A new underground storm trunk will be installed in the median of 24^th Street SW from Woodview Drive SW to Woodpark Blvd. SW and south into Fish Creek Provincial Park. 

Construction of the storm trunk diversion consists of excavation, underground piping, backfill and road restoration. Construction impacts will include:

• Increased traffic on 24^th Street S.W. (construction crews, trucks hauling materials to and from site)
• Construction noise
• Staged closures of 24^th Street S.W. south of Woodview Dr. complete with detours. Access to the communities of Woodbine and Woodlands will be maintained through Woodview Dr.
• Tree removal
• Access road into Fish Creek Park will be closed to vehicles during construction of the portion of the storm trunk under the access road

The storm diversion will significantly reduce flooding that occurs along 24^th Street SW and in the communities of Woodbine and Woodlands as the new trunk will be . During heavy rainfall, overall vehicle and pedestrian safety will be improved, traffic congestion reduced and emergency vehicle access unimpeded by flooding.

New Bebo Grove storm pond details

A new storm pond will be constructed in the Bebo Grove day use area of Fish Creek Provincial Park. The pond be a hybrid wet pond-wetland where wetland water levels will vary with the seasons and amount of rainfall. A new asphalt trail will be constructed around the south perimeter of the pond to connect with existing trails in Fish Creek. Construction will be ongoing throughout summer 2019 with landscaping to be completed in summer of 2020. 

Construction of the pond consists of earthworks (excavation and grading), underground piping and landscaping. Construction impacts will include:

• Increased traffic to the Bebo Grove day use area of Fish Creek Park (construction crews, trucks hauling materials to and from site)
• Construction noise
• Access road and day use area will closed to the public for the duration of construction. Pedestrian and cyclist access will be maintained into and throughout the park.

The storm pond will allow for storage of stormwater during rain events and improve the quality of the water discharged to Fish Creek by separation and settlement of suspended solids. Newly created picnic areas and lookouts surrounding the pond will provide spaces for park users to enjoy the improved aesthetics of the Bebo Grove area and the wet pond will attract more bird and wildlife species.

About the Woodlands Woodbine Community Drainage Improvements (WWCDI) program

The above projects are a result of the WWCDI program, launched in 2010 to mitigate flooding in areas throughout the city. Drainage studies were undertaken to come up with solutions to areas that were frequently hit by flooding caused by extreme rainfall events in older areas of the city. When a drainage study is completed, a set of solutions are developed to mitigate flooding in the area. Solutions can be a combination of adding additional storm drainage pipes, increasing the size of drainage pipes and adding storm ponds to help mitigate flooding.

These drainage improvement projects aim to reduce the chance of flooding from 20% down to 2%. This brings the system up to a level that is current to City of Calgary servicing standards.

Learn more about each of these projects and stay up to date at calgary.ca/wwcdi

Celebrating Earth Day: Calgary Climate Symposium and five climate-smart actions

At The City of Calgary, Earth Day is an opportunity to show our commitment to environmental protection. Addressing climate change is one way that we are demonstrating that commitment by investing in cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, expanding public transit, capitalizing on renewable energy, retrofitting streetlights to LED, managing our waste as a resource, supporting innovative community design and much more. Today, we are sharing some of the highlights from our recent Climate Symposium and we’ve compiled a top-five list of climate smart actions citizens can take to celebrate Earth Day with us.

Last month The City of Calgary hosted the Calgary Climate Symposium, bringing together community leaders, entrepreneurs, prominent climate experts and City of Calgary staff for a series of unique networking and learning opportunities.

This was the first symposium of its kind The City has hosted and all five public events sold out. With so much interest and many requests to hear what was talked about, a playlist of videos is now available on the program website at calgary.ca/climateprogram with all of the presentations as well as feature interviews with many of the speakers.

The symposium aimed to open up a Calgary-specific conversation about how a changing climate will impact our city, and explore opportunities for innovation and economic growth.

“Climate change acts as a risk multiplier,” says Tom Sampson, Chief of the Calgary Emergency Management Agency, referring to large-scale events he has responded to such as the 2013 Southern Alberta flood and the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfires.

“Alberta has become the hotbed of severe weather events,” Bill Adams, Vice President, Western Region, Insurance Bureau of Canada, explains with a bar chart showing seven of the top 10 weather-related insured loss events in Canada have been in Alberta. “Understand that you are vulnerable, understand what your specific risks are at your home and at your business, and then take steps to address those risks.”

And while a changing climate poses risks and vulnerabilities for Calgarians, there are also opportunities.

“Climate change should be seen as a huge opportunity rather than a threat,” says Andy Gouldson, Professor of Environmental Policy and Dean of Interdisciplinary Research, University of Leeds. “All of our work shows really clearly that addressing climate change can create jobs, improve public health, lead to better, more vibrant cities and enhance the quality of life.”

Gouldson is part of a team at the University of Leeds who recently published the Economics of Low Carbon Development Report for Calgary, evaluating and prioritizing a list of actions in the residential, commercial, transport, industrial and waste sectors that will provide the largest impact on the local economy and global climate. This study will inform the Climate Program’s upcoming Climate Resilience Plan to be presented to Council in June 2018.

Presenters from the symposium also outlined simple steps citizens can take today to be climate smart. These are outlined in their video interviews, and we’ve compiled the top five:

1. Install an energy efficient furnace and/or windows – Guy Huntingford, BILD Calgary 
2. Use the My Energy IQ tool to understand your energy usage – Jeff Hilton, ENMAX 
3. Use alternative transportation options (bike, walk, public transit) – Caroline Saunders, British Consul General 
4. Be active in your community: participate in community gardens, car share programs and more – Anika Terton, International Institute for Sustainable Development 
5. Be aware of your risks and prepare a 72-hour emergency preparedness kit – Tom Sampson, Calgary Emergency Management Agency

How snowpack affects river flood risk

While skiers and snowboarders celebrated the season’s higher-than-average snowfall, some Calgarians have been less enthusiastic, concerned that all this snowfall – once it melts – may increase our risk of river flooding. That risk is what The City of Calgary’s River Engineering Team monitors.

“We track weather and river conditions year-round,” says Sandy Davis, planning engineer. “We work with Alberta Environment’s River Forecast group, who also monitors conditions and river flow forecasts on an ongoing basis.”

And while the snowpack within the watershed that feeds the Elbow and Bow Rivers is higher than average for this time of year (approximately 120% of our average snowpack), Davis explains it is not too unusual, nor does it significantly increase our risk of river flooding.

“The important thing to remember is that, in Calgary, a high snowpack alone does not cause our rivers to flood,” says Davis. “There are many factors that influence our flood risk, the most important one being heavy rainfall upstream of Calgary.”

The data Davis’s group collects shows many other years in which similar high snowpacks did not result in river flooding. For example, in 2017, a high snowpack and a warm spring led to a quick melt and high river flows. While that prompted a temporary boating advisory on the Bow River, there was no flooding.

“The main driver of river flooding is heavy rainfall events, which are challenging to forecast because we are so close to the mountains,” explains Davis. “We can usually see large rain events about five to seven days out, but they may change course and may not hit our area. At the same time, once a large rainfall event is on its way, we may only have 24 hours or less to fully understand its scale.”

These kinds of rainfall events are most likely to occur mid-May through mid-July, so it is important for citizens to be aware of their risks and, if they live, work or commute in flood-prone areas, to be prepared to respond on short notice, if required.

For more information on how to understand, prepare and stay informed about flood risk, visit calgary.ca/floodinfo and sign up to receive our e-newsletter, which will be distributed biweekly throughout flood season.

Public Service Announcement: #YYCSnowMelt - Get ready for it

The weather forecast indicates that warm weather can be expected for Calgary this weekend. The warm weather combined with the large amount of snow received in recent weeks will likely result in significant snow melt and this could create challenges for all of us.

Here are some tips to protect your home and your family this weekend:

1. Shovel snow away from the foundation of your home and window wells to prevent seepage into your basement. 
2. If you are moving or piling snow, check furnace and exhaust vents to make sure snow and ice are not blocking them. Carbon monoxide can build up within your home as a result. 
3. Ensure your downspouts (eavestroughs) are clear and pointed away from your home/foundation. 
4. Once the snow begins to melt and the storm drain is visible, clear snow away from the storm drain. 
5. Once the melt begins, you can clear away snow from the storm drain. If you find that the storm drain is iced over, do not try to remove the ice yourself. Call 311 and a crew will clear the ice for you. Don’t chip away at ice on storm drains as you may damage it or injure yourself. 
6. If water pools by the storm drain, give it 90 minutes to drain. The City of Calgary has special devices in the storm drains that allow the water to drain slowly and not overload the stormwater system. 
7. If you see pooled water on a roadway, be careful – don’t drive through deep water as you can’t see potentials risks or conditions that might be unsafe. 
8. Check the function of your sump pump. 

If you can't find your storm drain, use our interactive map to locate it.

Questions about your water meter? We’ve got answers.

In most homes, there is a water meter that measures how much water is used each month, and the homeowner is then charged for the water used, as reported by the water meter.

How do I know my meter is accurate?

Water meters are mechanical devices – water needs to pass through the meter in order to record consumption. The City uses water meters that meet industry standards. Before The City receives meters, all meters are tested by the manufacturer at three different flow rates before distribution to certify the meter’s accuracy. The City also owns a state-of-the-art Water Meter Test Bench manufactured by MARS Company, an industry leader in meter testing technology. Calgary is one of a few municipalities to have that technology, and while other municipalities also test their meters, The City also measures the weight of the water passing through to further verify the accuracy of the meter.

In rare cases, meters can register slightly higher volumes at certain flows than what is flowing through. In that rare event it would be a negligible increase, and it would be much more likely for a meter to register lower water consumption, as water meters tend to slow down as they age. This would result in a lower bill for the customer, not higher. Also, in this case it would not likely be a one-month error but rather show as a continuing pattern.

It’s important to know that about 99.5 per cent of our over 350,000 customers receive monthly bills that reflect regular water consumption levels within their average range.

Here is Chris Huston, Manager of Drinking Water Distribution, explaining how The City manages and maintains water meters for citizens.

How can I check to see if my meter is operating properly?

Your meter is typically located in the basement where your water service enters the home. The meter has numbers (looks similar to an odometer on a car) and a dial called a flow register. The dial and numbers shows water consumption. It’s easy to check if your meter is registering flow: have someone turn water on in the house, and watch as the flow register turns and registers consumption. If the flow register is turning and all fixtures are off, this could indicate that you have a leak. Use the high consumption checklist on calgary.ca/waterservices to help troubleshoot the cause.

Who can I contact if my water bill is much higher than usual?

Every situation is unique, but it's not unheard of to see an increase in your water use from one bill to the other. You can visit enmax.com/water for more information or visit calgary.ca/waterleaks for a high consumption checklist that is an easy guide to help determine higher than usual water use.

What can I do to make sure I don’t experience an unintentionally high spike in my water bill?

Checking for leaks in and around your home will help ensure that you aren’t unintentionally consuming water. If you do find a leak or issue, it is important to fix it as soon as possible to avoid a high water bill associated with higher water use. Visit calgary.ca/waterleaks for a high consumption checklist, and for ways that you can save water. There are even more tips and ideas on how to save water around your home at calgary.ca/waterconservation.



Do you have more questions about your water meter or billing? Visit our FAQ here.

Flood season: understand, be prepared and stay informed

Flooding can occur at any time in Calgary, although the period between May 15 and July 15 is when we are most likely to experience flooding. Historically, this is when we experience our largest widespread rainfalls.

How does flooding occur?

Flooding in Calgary can happen in several ways:

• Rivers and streams cannot contain excessive rainfall within their banks.
• Rain and snowmelt cannot be absorbed into the ground.
• Waterways or storm drains become blocked with debris or ice.
• Water containment systems, such as stormwater or sewage pipes, are overloaded or break, causing backup.
• Severe thunderstorms cause localized flooding of streets and property.
• Ice jams on rivers may cause elevated water levels and overland flooding.

Calgary sits at the confluence of two small rivers, the Bow River and the Elbow River, and several smaller creeks. The Bow River has a large watershed drainage area and drops from the mountains to the city at a steep slope. The Elbow River also drops in elevation at a steep slope and so it is a relatively short trip from the mountains to where it meets with the Bow River in the heart of Calgary.

Having two short and steep river systems means that fast changes to high flow rates can reach Calgary rapidly with little warning.

Weather conditions can also change rapidly. Calgary’s proximity to the Rocky Mountains makes accurate weather forecasting a challenge. Weather forecasters have a tough time predicting how weather systems will behave once they reach conditions surrounding the mountains.

What we’re doing to prepare

The City of Calgary’s priority when planning for and responding to flooding is to protect its citizens, critical infrastructure, civic property, the environment and the economy.

The City prepares annually for flooding by:

• Developing and maintaining emergency response plans. 
• Conducting training sessions and exercises for City personnel. 
• Identifying those areas of the city and critical infrastructure that are most vulnerable to flooding. 
• Ensuring adequate emergency resources are in place. 
• Sharing information with Calgarians, businesses, stakeholders and other municipalities. 
• Operating existing infrastructure, such as dams, reservoirs and outfall gates, to reduce flow rates and mitigate flood damage. 

The City strives to maintain all critical business functions and services to Calgarians during any emergency or disaster including flooding. The City cannot prevent or mitigate all flood risk to all private properties. Property owners remain responsible for protecting their property.

What you can do to prepare

The first step towards protecting yourself is to know your flood risk and the sources of information available to you:

• Visit calgary.ca/floodinfo to understand your flood risk, and for detailed information on how you can be prepared for flood season. You can also download a copy of the Flood Readiness Guide.
• Prepare your 72-hour emergency kit. This kit holds supplies to support you and your family for three days in an emergency situation. 
• Visit Alberta Environment’s river basin website and download the river monitoring app by searching for "Alberta Rivers" on your device.
• Listen for and sign up for Alberta Emergency Alerts (AEA). Alberta Emergency Alerts interrupt local broadcasting. As well, you can download the AEA app to a smart device to receive notifications.

The importance of keeping storm drains draining

In 2015, there were more than 1600 service requests related to catch basins and drainage concerns, while in 2014 there were a whopping 5036! The City historically receives the majority of its storm drain –or ‘catch basin’- calls in March.

A blocked catch basin

Rainwater and melting snow from sidewalks, streets and roads are drawn into the catch basin or storm drain, located at the edge of the sidewalk and flow into our storm system, eventually into our rivers. One way to help keep your sidewalks and roads safe is to create a pathway for the melting snow to drain to the storm drain.

“Citizens can help prevent street pooling by clearing ice and compacted snow away from storm drain when the weather turns warmer,” says John Headley, leader Asset Assessment with Water Services. “Citizens can, if safe to do so, clear the channel along the gutter so that the snowmelt can drain into the catch basin.” At times, street debris or debris from wind, rain or hail storms (branches, leaves etc.) may block storm drains, as well. If this debris is sitting on the surface of the drain, and it is safe to do so, it can be removed to allow for water to drain more easily.

Storm drains are the main way water gets into the underground pipe system. The metal grates that can be seen at the edge of the road are only a portion of the structure which is primarily under ground. Under the grates is a barrel that collects the water. The barrel is attached to a pipe that allows the water to be whisked away and eventually deposited in the river.

If a storm drain is encased in ice, and cannot be easily removed please contact 311 so it can be thawed with specialized equipment. Also, do not attempt to clean a catch basin if it's submerged in water. You cannot be sure if the grate is intact, presenting a safety risk. If the drain is covered in water, please contact 311.

In many newer communities, The City has installed inlet control devices in the storm drain to control water drainage. Known as ICD’s , they are designed to keep water on the road for at least two hours, or until the system can accept the extra water. While this prevents the storm system from being overwhelmed, it may result in some water pooling on a street. This water will eventually drain once water volumes lower.

For more information on The City’s storm drain system, visit Calgary.ca/stormdrains.

Warm weather turns attention to catch basins

Crews use steam to remove snow and ice from catch basins  

Although spring is right around the corner and we haven’t had a significant snowfall in Calgary for weeks, don’t be surprised if you see snow removal equipment in your community.

While the warm weather trend has continued throughout February, low overnight temperatures have led to a freeze-thaw cycle. This has created icy patches on the roads, especially around storm drains, also known as catch basins.

As a result, Roads and Water crews are out doing work to clear roads and catch basins as well as address water pooling concerns. These include:

• Clearing the area around catch basins with a grader so that water can run into it.
• Moving ice from the shady side of the street to the sunny side, where it can melt.
• Addressing concerns of water pooling that can cause property damage or safety issues.

A blocked catch basin

Residents are encouraged to clear blocked storm drains from snow, ice or debris. If water is covering the storm drain and you can’t see the top of it, or if it’s too difficult to chip away the ice fill out a 311 Service request.

Calgarians are also encouraged to contact 311 if they see ice on the road that is blocking the flow of water to a catch basin or, if it is safe to do so, clear the channel along the gutter themselves. This way, when crews are out pre-sweeping the roads, we won’t have to worry about icy gutters.

Snow budget savings

Although road maintenance work has continued despite the lack of snow, we have seen significant savings on materials use, such as gravel, and overtime wages.

In 2015, we came in $2 million under our Snow and Ice Control (SNIC) budget. That money has now been put into the SNIC reserve fund which can be accessed in future winters with above-average snowfalls.

For additional information about snow and ice control in our city or to submit a concern to 311, visit Calgary.ca/snow.

Hemodialysis valve tags keep service flowing to critical customers

Having your water shut off for valve replacements or main repairs is a small inconvenience to most Calgarians; but for some, the water simply cannot be shut off without notice. Not having water could be a matter of life or death.

In 2003, The City wanted to take a closer look at how we deliver water service to critical customers – people who depend heavily on their water supply for a variety of reasons. During this assessment, hemodialysis came up as an issue. People whose kidneys no longer function properly are on hemodialysis, a procedure that acts like the kidney and uses water to flush waste from the blood. When this vital procedure is performed at home, it requires a constant supply of clean water.

A list of all hemodialysis patients in Calgary was created and is now updated monthly by Quality Assurance Administrator Judy Hutchinson. Crews check the list to make sure maintenance or repair work will not interfere with the water supply for these critical customers and if it is, they can provide advanced notice to them.

“Water has a big impact on their lives,” says Chris Huston, Manager Field Services. “By using our hemodialysis lists we make sure water keeps flowing to those who need it most and also that we give adequate time to prepare should the water need to be shut off.”

Valve tags, marked with ‘HEMODIALYSIS CUSTOMER’, are placed on the main valves on the water main that the home of a hemodialysis patient is served from. Field crews instantly know there is a resident on that water main who cannot have the water shut off without notice. Before any work is done on that water line, crews will check the list and talk to the resident to make sure they can prepare before water is turned off.

“This isn’t a regulatory requirement. While most people who are on hemodialysis understand how to deal with a loss of water we go talk to them to make sure they’re ready for a disruption to their service,” says Chris. “It’s the right thing to do.”

Currently, 50 homes in Calgary have the hemodialysis valve.

Keeping parks and sports fields healthy through effective water management

Water is our most precious natural resource, and it's up to every Calgarian to help conserve and protect our water supply. The City of Calgary has a lot of wonderful parks and sports fields and keeping them in great shape takes planning and dedication to use water resources responsibly.

Parks has been leading the way in water management for several years, and has been recognized internationally for its irrigation practices.

Water Management Controller

“The City has invested in irrigation technology to maximize the benefit of every drop of water, decrease runoff and minimize downstream effects,” explains Water Management Lead for Parks Denis Gourdeau. “It is important to continually look for ways to conserve water while protecting assets like our trees and turf.”

One of the ways Parks accomplishes its conservation goals is by using a centralized irrigation system that draws data from weather stations around the city to determine when watering is necessary.

“Instead of watering for a fixed time on a fixed calendar, this system calculates how much water the plant needs based on the current weather and applies only what the plants needs,” says Denis. “With this system the amount is adjusted every day and conserves water.”

Recent upgrades to existing spray parks, as well as the construction of new parks have also taken into consideration the need to reuse water. Old parks had a system which required daily filling and draining, which used a substantial amount of treated water. “The new systems have been developed to be filled at the beginning of the season and treated on site like swimming pool. They no longer require daily draining, which results in less water usage,” says Denis.

Riley Park

Parks also uses water saving measures like allowing turf to grow to longer lengths, which provides shade for roots and retains moisture. Watering of sports fields is also done according to patterns of use. “When sports fields are heavily used, they require regular watering to protect turf from wear and tear,” says Denis. “We water less in the summer when the fields are not used as much allowing the turf to enter a dormancy state, which is good to maintain plant health.”

In 2009, the Irrigation Association awarded Calgary Parks its National Water & Energy Conservation Award for ‘transforming the irrigation industry in western Canada and for demonstrating exceptional commitment in using water wisely’. In 2010, Calgary Parks and Water Services shared another Irrigation Association award for exceptional Smart Irrigation Month promotions. Parks has also been been recognized for its involvement with initiatives such as the water recovery and reuse system at the Fire Training Academy.

Want to know how you can use less water in your own yard? Get lawn care tips and info on watering and irrigation systems for your home. See what you can do to save water and discover some interesting water facts!

Down the drain no more - practical reuse leads water conservation efforts

Reusing waste water instead of sending it down the drain is one way The City demonstrates leadership in water conservation and sustainability. The City is leading not only by example, but also at the regulatory level.

example of a rainwater housing system

Inspections & Permit Services is a group that has always helped businesses, builders and homeowners navigate the world of green building and sustainable design practices. However, one thing that was missing was the provincial Plumbing Code was the allowance of reclaimed water* usage. That was until August of this year when Municipal Affairs issued a variance to the Plumbing Code – a result of The City of Calgary and other municipalities working towards a change.


“It is important to lead conservation discussions, while at the same time, thinking about the health aspect,” explains Richard Burk, Operational Supervisor, Inspection and Permit Services. In addition to helping enact this change, Richard chaired the task group that created the guidelines all municipalities must follow to work to regulate acceptable reclaimed waste water systems.

“On a day-to-day basis, we enforce the rules set down by the province. We work with home owners, plumbers and engineers to advise on provincial and national codes and standards to ensure [the] correct plans for the implementation of green technologies are being used,” says Richard.

water distribution system

If a business or homeowner wants to install a reclaimed water system, Inspections & Permit Services reviews the plans submitted under the application for a plumbing permit. Once the plans are approved, an inspection is completed upon installation to make sure the system is good to go.

Businesses are jumping on board to save money and water. The new Calgary Airport terminal has included reclaimed water systems in their design and the Calgary South Hospital is using water from water softening equipment to flush toilets and urinals. The new Telus Sky tower is also looking at incorporating reclaimed water into its design. And The City? We’re now able to start using reclaimed water to wash garbage trucks.

“Solutions like this help alleviate stress and add years of service to City facilities. It is important to be able to use our sustainable design practices in order to benefit the environment and reduce demand on infrastructure,” says Richard.

Permit requirements for installing sustainable technology
Depending on the construction processes involved and Land Use Bylaw rules, the installation of a sustainable technology system may require a development permit, building permit and/or trade permits (electrical, heating, plumbing). For more information, please contact the Planning Services Support Centre at 403-268-5311.

Other information regarding water reuse
Check out The City commitment to reduce water consumption (in 2002) by 30 per cent over 30 years.
Check out the Rainwater Harvesting Guide which outlines the best practices for rainwater harvesting systems in the City of Calgary.

*Reclaimed water is the practice of treating wastewater to remove all impurities to meet commercial and industrial water needs, such as toilet and urinal flushing and car washes. Reclaimed water is water that is used more than one time before it passes back into the natural water cycle promoting water conservation and sustainability.

CTrain wash is a green, clean machine

As part of reducing The City’s environmental footprint and to help reach our 30-in-30 Water Efficiency Plan, Calgary Transit makes water re-use a part of its operations.

A tunnel-style carwash uses about 150 litres of water to clean your average car. Now imagine washing a vehicle that weighs 120 tons, is 3.8 metres high and 81 metres long. That’s the size of a Calgary Transit CTrain, and it takes about 1,800 litres of water to clean it.

The good news is that Calgary Transit has a CTrain wash that recycles 90-95% of the water that’s used by collecting it into two reclaim water tanks and three settling pits that remove dirt, debris, sediment and soap.

We’re also cautious to only wash CTrains when necessary. During stretches of warm sunny days, trains remain fairly clean on the outside. However, the biggest contributing factor to a dirty train exterior may surprise you. “Carbon builds up where the CTrain makes contact with the overhead (centenary) wires, and that actually causes the train to get dirty more than the weather does,” says Wayne Edwards, Coordinator of Transit Fleet. “We get a carbon film building up on the train, and without the right type of soap and brushes, the train won’t get clean.”

At the end of each day, every CTrain car is cleaned on the inside, and if the exterior needs a wash it’s sent through the tunnel. It takes about four minutes to wash a 3-car CTrain and the brushes sweep along the front, back and sides of the train.

When breakdowns happen at the train wash, Calgary Transit’s maintenance staff are trained to repair it, replace brushes and other parts. “The most common break down is the brushes – they get bent if the train moves too quickly through the wash,” says Edwards. Maintenance staff have even made some of their own modifications to parts to help lessen the breakage and repairs.

This unique train wash is located in the Oliver Bowen Maintenance Facility (OBMF), one of two Calgary Transit garages where CTrains are repaired, maintained and cleaned. OBMF was awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold rating. LEED is a third-party internationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

Fire, Water, Earth: Coming full circle with water conservation in fire training

In experiencing some warmer temperatures of late, it serves as a good reminder of our access to fresh, clean water and the importance it plays in our everyday lives. In helping to preserve this precious resource, The City of Calgary looks for opportunities to implement water conservation practices throughout its operations and facilities. The Calgary Fire Department (CFD) is ensuring this, and other environmental considerations are at the forefront of its training efforts.

Recognizing an opportunity to reduce its environmental footprint and to participate in The City’s 30-in-30 Water Efficiency Plan (to reduce Calgary’s per capita water consumption by 30 per cent from 2003 volumes by the year 2033), the Calgary Fire Department developed a system to capture and reuse the 150 million litres of water used during every year in training.

In essence, the Training Academy has ceased consumption and waste of potable water for its training. This first-of-its-kind system utilizes water from a man-made wetland and pond filtration system. Instead of spraying potable water all over the

facility’s grounds and watching it ice up, run down drains, or evaporate, contaminated fire run-off is retreated and reused.

The innovative nature of this project has even won a national environmental award in 2010 and was nominated for several other awards, including the Globe Awards for Excellence in Urban Sustainability and the Emerald Awards. Other organizations, like the Edmonton Fire Department, have also requested information about this system to see if they may be able to do something similar.

Improving overall environmental performance is rewarding, but an added benefit is when services to the citizens of Calgary are improved as a result.

“In addition to the Training Facility, we expanded our pump training program for crews by allowing them to train in selected remote locations,” said Patrick Choukalos, Calgary Fire Department environmental consultant. Pump training ensures that firefighters to learn how to control the amount of water that enters the fire hose from the hydrant to enable the them to put the fire out in the most effective and efficient way.

Last year, the CFD and the City of Calgary Parks worked on a cooperative effort that now sees firefighters pump water onto certain areas within specific City parks – essentially watering the trees, plants and grass as a by product of hydrant testing and running response drills.

Battalion Chief John Cherweniuk - a 29 year member of the Calgary Fire Department, championed the idea. “I knew this type of partnership could benefit our crews by allowing them to conduct their pump training in a more realistic setting, and in areas conveniently located in their response district,” said Chief Cherweniuk.

During hot, dry summer weather, some of the training practices like the one mentioned, allows water on areas that doesn't usually receive it and helps to reduce the risk of grass or bush fire.

“This training is good for parks and saves time, gas and emissions by letting crews stay closer to their stations to train. It also lessens our environmental footprint," adds Choukalos.

“This training is good for parks, and lessens our environmental footprint while allowing us to contribute directly to the communities we serve,” said Choukalos.


Related Calgary City News Blog posts:
Fire Department's Water Re-use Project wins national environmental award
Calgary Fire Department boasts new training facility, water reclamation project

Liveable Cities Forum: Planning for Resiliency

Since the 2013 floods, The City has been doing a lot of work to restore river banks, study how the river has changed, continue to improve response timing and plan for a flood resilient Calgary. As part of this work, The City of Calgary is hosting the 2015 Livable Cities Forum September 28 to 30,
2015, including a community event that is open to the public (more information will be available closer to the event date).

The Forum brings together municipalities, water management professionals, elected officials and other stakeholders to work together on solutions through the theme of building more flood resilient communities.

“We have built the conference to focus on four things,” said Carolyn Bowen, Program Manager of Flood Resiliency and Mitigation. “Understanding, which focuses on assessing the economic and social impacts of flooding. Planning, which looks at how flood resilience can be incorporated into land use development. Mainstreaming, which is resilience within organizations. Advancing, which highlights natural resiliency measures, climate change considerations, and how to empower people and organizations.”

During the conference, best practices and lessons learned will be shared. Participants will learn how to achieve resiliency through hands-on opportunities and walk away with established networks and partnerships that will continue to advance the understanding and achievement of municipal flood resiliency in Canada. The Forum includes 23 concurrent sessions and study tours of areas in Calgary and High River that were impacted by the 2013 flood. An event, open to the public, is also planned for the Tuesday of the conference.

“The Forum is a great opportunities for people from a variety of municipalities to share their experiences and response to flooding, and what they have done to plan for future events,” says Bowen. “Sharing ideas and experiences makes us better prepared as Canadian municipalities to be more flood resilient.”

The Livable Cities Forum is just one component of The City’s plan for resiliency of water resources. The City continues to plan for drought, utilizing technology to manage water use and irrigation, and maintaining a high standard of water quality as part of its water management program.

For more information on the 2015 Livable Cities Forum, visit livablecitiesforum.com.

Managing Calgary’s Water Supply – a fine balancing act!

Calgary's water comes from the Bow and Elbow rivers

This summer, Calgarians have had their share of fluctuating weather conditions. From hot sunny days, to thunderstorms, hail and even tornado watches, Mother Nature has been keeping Calgarians on their toes, eyes to the sky.

Around us, it is hard to ignore the effects the weather has had – agricultural devastation declared in some Alberta communities, wildfires in Alberta and Saskatchewan, as well as recent water restrictions in British Columbia. How is Calgary faring and what is The City is doing to ensure Calgary has an ongoing, plentiful water supply to mitigate the impact of weather-related challenges?

The City of Calgary does many things all year long to protect and provide our clean and safe water. Calgary, like many other cities and towns in Alberta, gets its water from the Bow and Elbow rivers. In recognizing there are a number of stakeholders all with a need for access to the water the rivers provide, we work cooperatively with our provincial partners and industry to ensure that needs are balanced and that no one user is putting excess pressure on this water supply.

Black-eyed Susans are a beautiful YardSmart, low water perennial

As The City’s population grows, so does our need to ensure safe and reliable fresh water is available for citizens. In anticipation of Calgary’s rapid growth, The City committed to reduce our water consumption (in 2002) by 30 per cent over 30 years. Despite record-breaking population growth, we are very pleased to report that per capita household water consumption is in fact less than levels in 2003. This accomplishment can be attributed back to both responsible water use by Calgarians and The City.

We are also continuously monitoring water withdrawals from the river, improving the state of our water and waste-water infrastructure and looking for new and innovative ways to sustain this valuable, natural resource.

“The approach The City takes is one of total watershed management; a complex process that looks at both local needs and the needs of those outside our municipal boundaries”, says Cheryl Harmsworth, manager of Watershed Planning. “This is a tremendous responsibility for The City because there are serious social and environmental considerations that we are obliged to honour.”

We all need to do our part and to be aware of how we use this precious resource, and by working together can we ensure safe and abundant clean water now and for future generations.

How you can help conserve Calgary’s water supply

YardSmart plants need minimal water

• Use high efficiency fixtures in your home
• Have a YardSmart yard with plants that need minimal water
• Use rain barrels to collect water to use in your yard
• Don’t over-water your grass – lawns only need one inch of water per week, including rainfall
• Don’t wash your car on your driveway
• Don’t wash dirt and debris into the storm-water catch basins

Remember, even the smallest action makes a difference. Together, we can protect Calgary’s water.

Construction zone safety: please slow down!

This summer, watch for some fresh, young faces out on the roads reminding Calgarians to slow down around work sites.  A partnership between Roads and Water Services has once again revised the popular “Please Slow Down - My Dad (or Mom) Works Here” campaign. The campaign features the children and grandchildren of Water Services and Roads employees and is aimed at reminding Calgarians that the people working out in the construction zones have families that they want to get home safely to at the end of the day.

Put yourself in their shoes.

Imagine sitting in your cubicle with cars whizzing by perilously close to your work space and so fast that you can feel the tailwind.  Well, that’s just what many of our employees in the field experience every day when they are out working on the roadway.

“The only protection that we have are those signs and the cones, it’s all that separates our workers and the traffic,” says Marco Nicoletti, Roads Foreman. Marco’s son (pictured) and daughter are part of the 2015 “My Dad Works Here” Construction Zone Safety campaign, and he reminds motorists, “I’m always letting my guys know to keep their heads on a swivel. Sometimes cars can enter a zone which has been marked off limits, it's very dangerous.”

With 1200 construction locations planned for Roads alone in 2015, commuters and construction are sure to meet. Many employees working on the street are only a few feet away from active traffic lanes, and in many cases, motorists are not taking care to slow down in these zones.

Just how big an issue is speeding in construction zones?

In 2014, Police monitored Construction Zone speeds at several sites both manned and with photo radar. Below are some statistics for enforcement stats attributed to speeding in a construction zone both, with or without workers present.

2014

Construction Zone	Infractions
Workers present	8042
No workers, speed reduction signs posted	469
Total Construction Zone Summonses	8511

Source: Calgary Police Service

We may think that speeding in Construction Zones is a non-issue, but these numbers paint a different picture. When you see construction it is imperative, for your safety and the safety of others that you slow down.

Don’t forget: speeding fines are doubled in construction zones. The Government of Alberta also enacted increased speeding fines in construction zones, which now range from $156 to $949.

So, when you are out and about on the roads, pay attention and slow down when driving through construction zones or near a City or emergency vehicle. Our fellow employees work there. 

For more information, visit calgary.ca/constructionzonesafety

City’s Spring Clean-up program completed ahead of schedule

This year’s Spring Clean-up program is completed, which puts the program approximately two weeks ahead of schedule.

Normally, street sweeping runs from mid to late April until the first week of July. However, thanks to mild weather and little rain or snow in March crews were able to get a jump start on sweeping activities.

“Mild weather wasn’t the only reason we were able to finish Spring Clean-up ahead of schedule,” said Roads Maintenance manager, Bill Biensch. “The dedication of our sweeping crews and Calgarians cooperation in removing cars and blue, black and green carts from city streets were also contributing factors to our early finish."

This year City crews picked up over 37,000 tons of winter sanding materials, dirt and other debris from Calgary’s roads in just nine and a half weeks.

Spring Clean-up improves safety and mobility in Calgary by removing sanding materials and other debris that have accumulated on roads and along major sidewalks and boulevards during the winter. The program also helps protect the environment by ensuring less material enters our river system.

Now that Spring Clean-up has been completed crews can now focus their efforts on summer maintenance programs including pothole repairs, boulevard maintenance, and gravel lane repair.

Although the Spring Clean-up program has finished, ongoing road maintenance and sweeping will continue throughout summer months.

To find out more about other City of Calgary Roads Maintenance programs, visit calgary.ca/roads or contact 311.

Flood Mitigation: taking steps to build resiliency

With recent news stories about the devastating floods in Houston and in Cache Creek, BC, building flood resiliency in Calgary is a timely topic that The City continues to address.  

Elbow River Bridge Construction, Fall 2014

Although almost two years have passed since the June 2013 Flood, for many Calgarians building flood resiliency remains important. Results from the 2014 Citizen Satisfaction Survey indicate that 93 per cent of Calgarians believe that The City should invest more or the same in providing protection from river flooding. And, that is what The City is working towards.  

For Calgary and Calgarians, building flood resiliency means increasing our ability to quickly recover from a flood event, as well as taking preventative measures that will help to mitigate flooding in future. Over the past two years, more than 200 repair or restoration projects have been identified to contribute to Calgary’s flood resiliency.

“The Citizen Satisfaction Survey told us that 85 per cent of Calgarians believe protection from river flooding is important,” says Carolyn Bowen, Program Manager, Flood Resiliency and Mitigation. “We are taking a comprehensive and collaborative approach to implementing the most effective combination of solutions to mitigate the impacts of flooding in our city.”

Some of the key steps The City has taken to improve flood resiliency to date include: 

• Strengthening our understanding of river flooding by improving river monitoring stations, river level forecasting and flood inundation mapping.
• Securing $14.89 million in funding for four projects through the Province’s Alberta Community Resilience Program.
• Restoring and reinforcing 19 critical and high priority areas, including bridges and riverbanks, to make them more resilient to flooding.
• Delivering flood recovery and preparedness presentations to 6,000 citizens and developing flood readiness information and tools, now available at calgary.ca/floodinfo.

In July 2013 The City of Calgary created an Expert Management Panel to steer The City’s River Flood Mitigation Program. The Expert Management Panel developed a report that included 27 recommendations to achieve a safer, more flood resilient city. To view the Panel’s recommendations and the progress The City has made on them, to date, you can download the Flood Resiliency and Mitigation 2014 Annual Report. 

Flood Readiness & River Safety: Understand. Prepare. Stay Informed. Stay Safe.

With May long weekend known as Calgary's unofficial start to recreational water season and the risk of river flooding greatest between May 15 - July 15, we'd like to update Calgarians on flood readiness and also remind everyone of river dangers.



Understand
The City monitors river forecasts, soil moisture, rainfall and snow melt rates in the mountains. Current data shows mountain snowpack is at the low end of a normal range. Our 90 day precipitation is drier than average, but not rare. We could expect more precipitation between May and July due to El Nino.

New flood inundation maps and river flow triggers are available to help Calgarians understand their personal and business flood risks.

Prepare
The City is better prepared to manage and minimize the impacts of a future flood. We’ve developed a comprehensive plan that incorporates the recommendations of our Expert Management Panel, trained more people, stock piled materials, repaired eroded river banks, built temporary barriers and created new inundation maps.

Calgarians also play an important role in flood readiness and safety. Stay prepared, alert and at the ready by having an emergency plan and 72 hour kit.

Stay Informed
The City has tools and resources available to help Calgarians know their flood risk. Visit calgary.ca/floodinfo for the latest information including flood advisories. You can also subscribe to our weekly newsletter and download the Alberta Rivers: Data and Advisories mobile app.

Stay Safe
The City’s Partners in Water Safety want to remind all Calgarians where there’s water, there’s risk. Before hopping on boat or river raft:

• SCOUT the river for potential hazards,
• ASSESS the level of danger and,
• DECIDE if it’s safe to proceed.