UPDATE: Calgary City Council gave authorization on November 22 to borrow over $1 billion to cover a variety of water infrastructure projects. Council approved a 3.6% increase in municipal property taxes for 2025.
City of Calgary officials are eyeing a loan of more than $1 billion to improve water infrastructure, following the feeder main crisis that tested the city for several months earlier this year.
The list of projects includes two new feeder mains, a new water treatment plant and major upgrades to two existing wastewater treatment plants.
The loan could also see the acceleration of the North Calgary Water Servicing Project (NCWS) involving the construction of a new 22-kilometre long water feeder main.
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“As we have seen with the Bearspaw feedermain, lack of redundancy has significant implications for our water system in times of infrastructure failure,” states the proposed budget adjustment to be debated by council in the weeks to come.
Part of the proposal involves a 3.9% municipal property tax increase per month and a 3.7% monthly increase on water utilities.
A new facility could be ready to open in 10 years and provide redundancy if the existing Bearspaw facility experienced further issues, explained Michael Thompson, the city’s general manager of infrastructure services.
The loan would also cover an expansion of the Bonnybrook Wastewater Treatment Plant and a modernization of facilities at the Fish Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Calgary’s Bearspaw South feeder main burst its concrete casting on June 5, leading to months of water restrictions and challenging repairs.
