Calgary council approves plan to raise residential water rates

The city is one step closer to finishing the Bearspaw South feeder main replacement project. Micro-tunneling, a method used to install water pipes beneath existing infrastructure, is now complete and the city says the entire project is on track to wrap up by the end of the year. So everything is on schedule and progressing well with respect to the construction of the new Bearspaw South water feeder main. For about eight months, crews were boring holes at select points and tunneling to keep from ripping up the road. The new pipe is still being installed inside the tunnel. Further west, open-cut construction continues on 34th Avenue in Bowness. Officials say that portion of the project is now 40% complete. You know, this is a proof point that what we're doing is working and we just need a little bit more of the public support to be able to get that across the line. But more disruptions lie ahead. The city says work on another feeder main could trigger outdoor water restrictions in mid-September. Then in mid-October, crews will take the old pipe out of service to connect the new one, which will require mandatory outdoor restrictions and voluntary indoor ones. During that time, the city is also planning six proactive repairs on a section of pipe not being replaced. The city says those repairs will mean 24-7 construction, detours and parking restrictions on Parkdale Boulevard and Memorial Drive, as well as pathway closures and impacts to driveway access. We're really appreciative of Calgarians' patience as we do this work and our team is here to talk to community members, residents and businesses to make sure that we're supporting them through this work. Officials say that work should take about four weeks. Brendan Coulter, CBC News, Calgary.