A Message from the City of Calgary
Dear Community Association Leaders,
We know many of you have been fielding questions from neighbours about the ongoing water restrictions, particularly as they relate to outdoor rinks and other community amenities. I want to personally thank you for your patience and for the significant effort your volunteers continue to put into supporting your communities as The City works to complete this water main repair as quickly as possible.
I want to say this plainly: I understand how hard this is – particularly for those of you who have invested countless volunteer hours and limited resources into maintaining outdoor rinks.
These spaces are a vital part of winter life in our communities. Recreation is not “extra.” It supports physical health, mental wellbeing, and community connection — and you are absolutely right to be advocating for it.
At the same time, the City is facing a serious water supply crisis. While the impacts may not always be immediately visible, the risk is real: if water use is not reduced now, reserves will most certainly be drawn down to levels that affect essential services, including emergency response. This is not a pleasant or easy situation, and I recognize the burden it places on community organizations that are already doing so much.
My office team and I have followed up with City Administration to get clarity on several questions we have received and we presume you may have too, so we want to share the most current information.
Outdoor rinks
Under the current Stage 4 Water Restrictions, outdoor rinks (including Adopt-A-Rinks) are not permitted to be flooded using City water. This includes:
- fire hydrant use, and
- water truck services.
At this time, the City is not planning to schedule water truck services or providing non-potable (untreated) water to support outdoor rink flooding. This is partially because repairs are nearly complete and, if all goes well, we hope you will be able to return to regular operations within the next few days.
Indoor rinks
The City’s Water Bylaw does not allow for the prohibition of flooding indoor rinks. However, indoor facilities (City-owned and private) have been asked to implement water reduction plans, including:
- reducing the frequency and duration of flooding, and
- scheduling flooding during off-peak hours where possible.
Car washes
Commercial car washes are allowed to continue operating. Most indoor car washes recycle approximately 85% of their water. We are encouraged to wash vehicles only when necessary for safety, such as keeping windows, mirrors, and license plates clean.
We understand this has caused confusion, and we appreciate your help in sharing this context with your neighbours.
Emergency alerts
Some neighbours have asked why a broadcast emergency alert has not been issued. Alberta Emergency Alerts have two forms:
- Advisory (non-intrusive) alerts, which are sent to users of the Alberta Emergency Alert app. These were issued on December 31 for the Boil Water Advisory and again on January 7 for the citywide water supply alert.
- Critical, broadcast-intrusive alerts, which interrupt radio, television, and mobile devices, are reserved for situations posing an immediate life-safety risk with urgent protective actions required. This threshold was met in 2024 when reservoir levels risked affecting fire suppression. At this time, that threshold has not been met.
What to expect next
The City continues to monitor the situation closely. Repairs are nearly complete, and at this point, impacts to Community Association operations are expected to be short-term — measured in days, not weeks, assuming no further complications.
I know this has been a difficult period, especially given the reliance on volunteers and the importance of community amenities during the winter months. Your flexibility, leadership, and cooperation are genuinely appreciated.
If you have specific operational questions, please continue to reach out to your Neighbourhood Partnership Coordinator. Our office will also continue to share updates as new information becomes available.
Thank you again for everything you do to support your neighbours.
DJ Kelly, PMP
Councillor, Ward 4
The City of Calgary I Mail code: #8001B
T 403.268.2430 | calgary.ca/ward4
Floor 3, Historic City Hall – 800 MacLeod Trail S.E.
P.O. Box 2100, Station M, Calgary, AB T2P 2M5