Nearly twelve months following the rupture of Calgary’s largest water feeder main, the city has outlined a review of its response successes and areas for enhancement in potential future emergencies. The detailed report, which provides an analysis of the city’s actions during the significant Bearspaw south feeder main rupture, was presented to city council members on Tuesday.
The incident, which occurred on June 5, led to a local state of emergency declaration, putting Calgary’s potable water supply at risk and necessitating various levels of water restrictions for Calgary and neighboring areas for an extended period. The recently published report highlights the gravity of the crisis, stating it endangered the lives of Calgarians, critical entities like hospitals, and adjacent communities.
City officials compiled the report after conducting surveys and consultations with personnel from the emergency operations center and the water tactical operations center. Described as one of the most critical and intricate infrastructure emergencies ever faced by the city, the event strained over 700 city employees who were mobilized to assist.
The report commends the dedication and proficiency of staff members who worked extended shifts to maintain operations round the clock, particularly at the water tactical operations center, identifying this as one of the nine strengths highlighted in the report. However, it also acknowledges that the emergency exposed the need for highly specialized expertise in certain roles, resulting in a reliance on a limited number of staff members.
Sue Henry, Chief of the Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA), informed council members that addressing staff exhaustion during crises remains an ongoing challenge. She emphasized the importance of recruiting additional staff with relevant expertise and developing a plan for scaling up staff numbers during emergencies.
Council members echoed the report’s recommendations during the presentation, emphasizing the necessity for clearer delineation of roles and responsibilities. The report also underlined the importance of effective collaboration and public communication during such events, highlighting the need for enhanced crisis communication training for designated city spokespersons.
Drawing from the lessons learned from the feeder main rupture, the city is implementing four initiatives to strengthen its emergency response capabilities. These initiatives include updating the municipal emergency plan to clarify roles, expanding the crisis communications team, and introducing safety and wellness programs for staff involved in emergency responses. An independent review of the Bearspaw south feeder main failure, led by Siegfried Kiefer, a former businessman, is still in progress.