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City of Calgary Water Crisis

September 22, 2024

Earlier this afternoon the City of Calgary announced all water restrictions are lifted and normal indoor and outdoor water use can resume.  This is approximately 1 week ahead of original schedule.  Thank you to City staff and contractors for your efforts throughout the water crisis.

Hopefully we have a strong month of good weather remaining to get as much work done as possible.   The non-potable water stations will cease operation at 19:00 today.

This signals the end of formal restrictions in 2024.  Landscape Alberta will now shift the focus of our interactions with the City of Calgary to recovery efforts and lessons learned that will be useful in updating the water-use bylaw in the coming months.

We are also collecting ideas from industry on ways the City of Calgary can offer businesses impacted by the water crisis.  – https://www.instagram.com/p/C_yYHRJyMl-/  or email yycwater@landscape-alberta.com with your ideas to help ease the pain and/or help with recovery.

September 12, 2024

City of Calgary announced today that construction is ahead of schedule.  Repair will be complete by end of this weekend.  Water filling of the water main will begin on Monday, and take approximately 3 days while they also conduct water quality testing as they aim for full system restoration for September 21/22nd.
This is approximately 1 week ahead of original schedule.  There might still be delays due to weather or other construction issues.
In the meantime, The City is opening a 4th location at Graves Bridge for commercial access only. This site will open September 12th starting at 5AM. There will be no residential pick-up at this location .
  • Graves Bridge (Map Link)
  • Hours of Operation 5AM-7PM, 7 days a week
We are also collecting ideas from industry on ways the City of Calgary can offer businesses impacted by the water crisis.  – https://www.instagram.com/p/C_yYHRJyMl-/  or email yycwater@landscape-alberta.com with your ideas to help ease the pain and/or help with recovery.

September 3, 2024

Calgary Water Crisis Update - Labour Day 

 Stage 4 water restrictions continue and as such no outdoor watering is permitted with potable water from a City of Calgary source.   

 Landscape Alberta’s advocacy around the free water pumping stations for commercial users appears to have been successful with an additional water pumping location added and additional stations and connection types at each location, which has resulted in little to no wait times.  This of course only serves a portion of the industry.   

On September 3rd, the City of Calgary announced changes to pumping procedures that have resulted in additional daily capacity.  We’ve engaged with the City already to discuss the potential of movement to Stage 3 water restrictions given this news.  Ongoing, we continue to request financial support for impacted businesses and will work with the City in their review of the water use by-law to ensure equitable treatment for landscape / horticultural businesses in the updates. 

August 28, 2024

We are now two full days into the outdoor water restrictions.  It appears usage is still well above the target goal, and thus the lack of capacity to reopen the discussion about an exemption for landscape plantings and construction.
The first two days for water pumping appears to be going well with the additional location, plus extra pumps at each location.  Wait times have been minimum.  With the majority of use being from landscape customers (100% on the first day).
The City of Calgary has offered to set up an additional site at Douglasdale that would be open to smaller tanks (less than 5000gal) if wait times arise.  The setup for this new site will take more than a week for approvals, signage, staffing, etc.  We need to know from industry if this needed or not – email yycwater@landscape-alberta.com and comment whether or not you would use this station.
We continue to advocate for relief for the landscape sector in Calgary, including relaxing of restrictions when possible and financial compensation to impacted companies.
More info to follow.

August 23, 2024

Please see the below message from the City of Calgary regarding the implementation of Stage 4 Restrictions beginning at 12:01 am on August 26th.

Landscape Alberta has been working very hard to find solutions to this devastating scenario for many in the Calgary landscape industry. This included requesting equitable treatment for business operations, including special allowances for watering for establishment periods and for construction. Given the current bylaw language, and the real fear of system collapse (including boil water orders between now and spring 2025) we have been working with the City in other ways.

This includes expansion of the water pumping locations to include longer hours, more stations with more hookup sizes, and a priority for business use. Those waiting on CCC and FAC inspections may see more lenience in plant material quality.

The City of Calgary has also committed to working with Landscape Alberta and it’s members on updates to the water usage bylaw in the near future. This will be an important phase that we can ensure more equitable treatment for our industry for the important work we do.   

Please see yesterday’s email for a more detailed look at the ongoing efforts, and feel free to send suggestions, thoughts, rants, your story to yycwater@landscape-alberta.com so we can continue to advocate on your behalf. 

———

As you may have heard in the media, The City is preparing to undertake urgent repairs of the Bearspaw South Feeder Main to maintain the health and stability of Calgary’s water system. To complete these repairs, we must once again take the Bearspaw South Feeder Main out of service. 

Unfortunately, this means that starting on Monday August 26th at 12:01 am we need a temporary return to Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions. We will also be asking businesses and residents to limit their indoor water use like we did in June. This work is expected to be complete by the end of September. 

About Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions  

Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions prohibits all outdoor potable water use including:  

  • Watering lawns, gardens, flowers, trees, and shrubs using city water 
  • Washing down any outdoor surfaces, including exterior building surfaces, windows, sidewalks, driveways, or walkways of any sort (unless your business requires it for health and safety reasons) 
  • Filling outdoor decorative features, fountains, pools, or hot tubs  
  • Using potable water for construction purposes such as grading, compaction, or dust control.  

Non-potable river water pick-up locations 

During these Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions, The City will be reopening non-potable river water pick up locations with designated hours to support businesses and residents.    

Non-potable water will be available for collection from three sites beginning August 26th: 

Hours of operation will be 5am to 7pm daily for commercial use, and 4pm to 7pm daily for residential use. 

Indoor water use reductions 

In addition to the Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions, we are also asking residents and businesses to reduce their indoor water use by 25 per cent to ensure that we have enough water to meet essential needs until the repairs are complete.     

About the upcoming repairs 

After the initial June break and hot spot repairs were completed and the feeder main returned to service, we used a device called a PipeDiver to do an inspection of the entire length of the feeder main, which is 10.4 kilometres.  

Our teams have been working alongside external experts to analyze the PipeDiver data. The data has revealed several new locations that need urgent repair. Some of these spots need to be repaired during this upcoming repair phase, while others will be addressed in our medium-to-long-term pipe rehabilitation plans.  

While the repairs are being completed, the Bearspaw South Feeder Main will be offline. Without this feeder main, Calgary’s available supply of treated water is greatly diminished. We need to work together to ensure enough water remains available for everyone, as well as for critical uses like hospitals and firefighting. 

Timing of the repairs 

These new repair locations are places where we are concerned that the pipe is at risk of breaking in the near term. These repairs will maintain service until a comprehensive rehabilitation plan is implemented. 

Timing was also influenced by the need to reduce reliance on the Glenmore Treatment Plant before winter water storage becomes critical in September. It’s important to understand that these repairs are planned, preventive, measures to maintain the pipe’s integrity until long-term solutions are finalized. 

Please visit calgary.ca/watermainbreak for regular updates. You can also visit calgary.ca/savewateratwork for tips on how your business sector can conserve water. 

August 22 – Update on City of Calgary Water Crisis

It’s been a busy week as with rush towards August 26th.  The letter to the Mayor / Press release from last week has led to serious interaction with Council, City staff, the media, industry and the public.

The Landscape Alberta working group continues to work towards meaningful solutions to the crisis for industry.  It has become clearer this week that the City lacks the ability to grant our request for exemption to Stage 3 for the landscape industry.  We’ve gathered data that suggest the landscape industry for new plantings and construction activity only would consume approximately 3.95 mega liters per day, or about 1% of the total restricted volume.  The current water use bylaw does not allow for exemption of one industry, as it only describes usage.  Combined with many other requests to the City, the cumulative total of potential exempt water use would put the system at real risk of failure.

What we’ve heard back.

  1. Additional water stations with additional pumps will be added starting August 26th with a focus on contractor usage.
    • Sites include Baker Park, Odgen and now Bankside in Fish Creek.
    • Non-city stormwater ponds can be used for up to 6,250 cubic metres of water if provincial guidelines are met.
  2. The process for CCC and FAC cannot be granted a blanket exemption, but the City does offer to view sites based on the lack of water access this year as a mitigating factor in granting approvals.
  3. Air is unable to be used for testing irrigation systems due the inspection standards required.

What we have asked for as additional support from the City of Calgary.

  1. Increased pumping locations and expanded hours of operation (5:00-22:00 daily)
  2. A permit system to allow for turf projects above 1000 sqft to be established. Would require registration/approval.
  3. Access to grant funds or tax rebates to assist companies in the additional costs of operations, including labour/equipment.
  4. Additional support for the water alternatives message and the importance of green infrastructure – we are the original environmentalists and not wasteful with water as some might have been led to believe.

Landscape Alberta will continue to advocate on behalf of the entire landscape industry in a professional and productive manner.  We understand frustrations are sky high right now, but we also need to ensure a healthy relationship with City administration as we move into consultations on the water use bylaw and other policy.   The future decisions will have long reaching and lasting impacts on the industry, and we need to be sure a more favourable position for the landscape sector.  After August 26th, we will work with City officials to monitor the ongoing water usage to evaluate if the actual consumption changes such that our original requests might be revisited.

What can you do?

  1. Please direct feedback to City of Calgary Staff to yycwater@landscape-alberta.com instead of directly to staff contacts.  We’ve had reports of unproductive, unprofessional language – which is frankly unacceptable.
  2. Write your councillor / Mayor and thank them for being responsive. Ask for additional support, including the items above.
  3. Plan for extra time, extra hours, and work that doesn’t involve water (if there is any of that left) or look to projects outside City limits.
  4. Find water totes to outfit your trucks and trailers with the ability to take advantage of water pumping and hauling options.
  5. Educate customers about alternative methods to assist with watering with non-potable water sources and the impacts they can have to keeping their landscape projects successful.
  6. Pray for enough rain for the plants, but not so much that any time is lost on work.

 

Landscape Alberta is deeply concerned for the well-being of its Calgary based member companies and their employees’ livelihoods if they are unable to work through another round of stage 4 water restrictions.  The City of Calgary will essentially shut down an entire industry during one of the busiest points of the year, approximately 20% of all planting is done in September each year. 

With immediate repairs required by the City of Calgary they have all but ended the landscape season for many in the area.   Nearly 50% of the 2024 landscape season will now be lost.  Most companies are reporting the need for widespread layoffs (40-60% of staff). 

We are asking the Mayor Gondek, City Council, and staff to please find a solution that will keep us working to make Calgary a green place to live, work and play. 

Landscape Alberta has requested the following main items: 

  1. The landscape industry be permitted to operate at Stage 3 rules regarding watering for establishment of new plants and for construction activities (i.e. pouring and cutting concrete)
  2. Remove all water restrictions ahead of shutdown to allow for increased watering schedules.
  3. Amend city inspection standards and practices to allow for projects to be completed this year. (thus, unlocking progress or completion payments that would otherwise be delayed 6 months)

Resources

Letter to Mayor Gondek

Press Release – Calgary landscape industry is drowning

Social Media Stories (Click to download or scroll to save images to your device)

Call to Action one pager for print and display

Change.org Petition https://chng.it/g552M9S4BQ Have your family, friends, staff, suppliers, customers sign this petition to show support for an industry on the verge of disaster.

 

Message template: 

Dear [Name], 

My name is [Author Name], I work/own [XYZ Landscaping] in Calgary, AB.  We employee [123] people each year and as a small business collectively make up the heart of the Calgary economy.  This year has been very difficult with the ongoing water crisis.  News of a further ban on outdoor water use in September is devastating. 

The inability to water new plantings for establishment or complete construction projects through September will have the following impacts on my company. 1) $ value or % of sales lost, 2) number of or % people to lay off 3) other impacts. 

I encourage you to work with Landscape Alberta, the trade association for professional landscapers, to find a solution that will help save my business and the jobs of my peers and friends. 

Sincerely,  

[Author Name] 

[Author Company] 

What You Can Do

City Contacts:

Mayor Jyoti Gondek – themayor@calgary.ca 

Ward 1 Sonya Sharp – sonya.sharp@calgary.ca 

Ward 2 Jennifer Wyness – jennifer.wyness@calgary.ca 

Ward 3 Jasmine Mian – jasmine.mian@calgary.ca 

Ward 4 Sean Chu – sean.chu@calgary.ca 

Ward 5 Raj Dhaliwal – raj.dhaliwal@calgary.ca 

Ward 6 Richard Pootmans – richard.pootmans@calgary.ca 

Ward 7 Terry Wong – terry.wong@calgary.ca 

Ward 8 Courtney Walcott – courtney.walcott@calgary.ca 

Ward 9 Gian-Carlo Carra – gian-carlo.carra@calgary.ca 

Ward 10 Andre Chabot – andre.chabot@calgary.ca 

Ward 11 Kourtney Penner – kourtney.penner@calgary.ca 

Ward 12 Evan Spencer – evan.spencer@calgary.ca 

Ward 13 Dan McLean – dan.mclean@calgary.ca 

Ward 14 Peter Demong – peter.demong@calgary.ca 

Emerald Ash Borer Requested as a Named Pest

Landscape Alberta has recently submitted the official request package to the Minister of Agriculture to have EAB classified as a Named Pest under the Agricultural Pest Act. View the full submission request and report. This is seen as an important step to controlling and with hope preventing the spread of EAB to Alberta. Members looking to show their support for this request are encouraged to speak to their local MLA. Find your local MLA.

Alberta Occupational Health & Safety Changes

As of June 1, 2018’s new Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) laws have come into effect. Public consultation informed changes to the act and influenced drafting updates to the OHS regulation and code to include harassment and violence, however, the new regulations are a surprise to many employers across Alberta.

The major changes can be summarized into five major categories: worksite health and safety committees and representatives, harassment and violence, WHMIS, obligations of worksite parties (worksite parties refers to different categories of workers/supervisors that may be present at a worksite), and reporting work incidents.

Jump to:
Worksite health and safety committees and representatives
Establishing a committee or HS representative
Training for HSCS and HS representatives
Workplace harassment and violence
WHMIS
Obligations of worksite parties
Reporting incidents

1. Worksite health and safety committees and representatives

Joint work site health and safety committees (HSC) are a group of worker and employer representatives working together to identify and solve health and safety concerns at the work site. Health and safety representatives (HS representatives) also promote awareness and interest in health and safety, and take on many roles of the HSC. HSCs and HS representatives contribute to the basic rights all workers have in protecting their health and safety.

When 20 or more workers are at a work site and when work is expected to last 90 days or more, the employer is required to establish an HSC. On work sites where there are from 5 to 19 workers employed for more than 90 days, the employer shall ensure that there is a designated HS representative. If no program is required, the employer must involve workers in hazard assessment and control.

Employers must:

  • provide adequate resources, time, and training to help committees and representatives function effectively
  • hold meetings and carry out duties and functions during normal working hours
  • post the names and contact information of committees members and representatives in a place all workers can see

Find more information and information to help you determine if you need to establish a committee or representative.

Establishing a Committee or HS Representative

The HS representative is to be chosen by the workers, unless prescribed by a union agreement. The employer must meet regularly with the HS representative to discuss health and safety matters, and must also work with the HS representative to determine how often meetings should occur and how to record meetings (there are no minimum requirements in the act).

The employer is responsible for establishing a committee. If a work site has multiple employers or self-employed people, the prime contractor is responsible for establishing the HSC. If there is no prime contractor, all employers and self-employed people must work together to establish a HSC for the work site.

Each HSC must have at least 4 members, and at least half of the HSC must consist of workers. Each HSC must also have 2 co-chairpersons. Worker representatives and co-chairs are selected by the workers for a term of not less than a year. Employer representatives and co-chairs are assigned by the employer.

Find full details on HSCs.

Training for HSCs and HS Representatives

Training for HSCs and HS representatives

The employer or prime contractor must provide work site HSC members and HS representatives with training about their duties and functions of their role; this training is required in order for committees and representatives to be established. Committee members and representatives must be allowed 16 hours, or the hours they would normally work during two shifts, to attend work site health training programs, seminars, or courses of instruction.

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has developed a free introductory course to help committee members and representatives learn about their roles.

Comprehensive training for committee members and representatives will be available through approved organizations with a list of providers and more information coming soon.

2. Workplace Violence and Harassment

Employers and supervisors must ensure workers are not subject to or participate in workplace harassment or violence. The new rules require employers to:

  • investigate incidents of violence and harassment and take corrective action
  • develop separate violence and harassment prevention plans
  • review plans at least once every three years
  • ensure workers receive training on preventing and responding to violence and harassment
  • have an appeal process for workers disciplined for bringing harassment and violence issues forward
  • advise workers of treatment options if harmed by violence or harassment; workers are entitled to wages and benefits while attending treatment programs.

Read more on workplace violence and harassment.

3. WHMIS

Federal WHMIS legislation was changed in 2015, but WHMIS legislation is both federal and provincial. The changes made to the provincial OHS code now align Alberta with the federal requirements for WHMIS 2015.

View the Alberta 2015 WHMIS changes.

4. Obligations of Worksite Parties


The new OHS laws update and clarify the roles and responsibilities of different groups of people that may be present on a work site. Each party has a specified role in how that party is responsible for OHS. Some parties specified include: supervisors, workers, contractors and prime contractors, owners of worksites, suppliers, and others.

Find a full list of the roles.

5. Reporting Incidents

The government must be notified when a serious injury, incident, or fatality occurs on a worksite to ensure an adequate investigation is conducted. The prime contractor is responsible for notifying the government by calling the OHS Contact Centre at 1-866-415-8690. If there is no prime contractor, the employer of the worksite is to report the incident/injury.

The types of incidents that must be reported include a serious injury or incident, an incident at a mine or mine site, a potentially serious incident (PSI), incidents that result in the death of a worker or a worker being admitted to a hospital, incidents involving unplanned explosion, fire or flood that causes or could cause serious injury, the collapse of a crane or hoist, and the collapse or failure of any component of a building or structure needed for structural integrity.

Find more details on reporting workplace incidents.

Edmonton City Council Will not Ban Grass Clippings from Regular Garbage Collection

Council backed away from a decision to ban grass clippings from the regular trash pickup. Instead a June utility committee will provide council members with more details on what residents can do with those grass clippings if they refuse to leave them on the lawn.

The City will still consider implementing a separate pickup schedule for spring and fall yard waste starting this autumn. It would be similar to Christmas tree collection, where crews do a separate trip to keep the material out of the regular garbage trucks. This would still allow the trees to be chipped and used for landscaping.

A separate pickup for yard waste would allow the leaves, thatch and other yard waste to be turned into a cleaner, more useful compost with less cost.

Nearly 60 per cent of Edmonton residents already leave their grass clippings on the lawn. City officials have been running an education campaign on the subject for years, arguing the clippings add moisture and nutrients to the lawn.

Read the full article from the Edmonton Journal.