City knows where its main network broke down and how it could prevent a repeat

The major outage this summer on Calgary’s largest water main was caused by corrosion and cracks in the outer layer of the pipe.

But officials say the problem is now resolved and they have a plan to protect the water system in the future.

Nearly 30 repairs were made along the water main.

The breakdown, which occurred in June, affected all of Calgary for weeks.

A combination of microcracks in the outer layer, broken wires due to corrosion and high levels of chloride impacting the concrete are all factors.

The city discovered 23 cable breaks in the months following the initial break.

But since the repairs and improvements, only two carabiners were discovered in the fall on a seven-kilometer stretch.

Officials also say most of the city’s water pipes are not made of the same materials as the one that broke.

The city is also gathering more data to be better prepared in the future.

“The team that would normally compile the information was busy responding,” said François Bouchart, director of priorities for the City’s capital.

“So it took a little bit longer to just compile the information that we had.”

Some data predicts that further repairs may be needed over the next five years.

The city is currently exploring two options to prevent this from happening in the future, including lining the existing pipes or digging a tunnel to install a new parallel pipe.