City officials say Calgary’s water usage was once again above the recommended threshold of 500 million litres on Wednesday, after two consecutive days of landing in the “green zone.”

Wednesday’s water use came in just above the line at 501 million litres, according to the city.

Nearly at the halfway mark of the city’s expected four-week-long water restrictions, Mayor Jeromy Farkas is urging Calgarians to “meet this moment.”

“Because we’ve been doing such a good job, there is a temptation to ease off just a little bit, to maybe take that extra minute in the shower and maybe run the dishwasher even if it’s not quite full,” Farkas said at a press conference on Thursday.

“Like each and every one of you, I feel that too. But right now we need to refocus because we’re almost there.”

This round of water restrictions began March 9 as the city halted flow on its key Bearspaw south feeder main to reinforce it after it suffered two major breaks since 2024.

The city is urging Calgarians to save 25 litres of water per person, per day by flushing toilets only when needed, limiting showers to three minutes or less, and running dishwashers and washing machines only with full loads.

Crews are working on reinforcing a total of nine pipe segments of the feeder main, including six segments on 16th Avenue N.W. near Sarcee Trail and three segments in Point McKay Park.

The city expects a temporary increase in overall water demand over the weekend or into Monday as it refills one section of the feeder main with about five million litres of water, supplied from the Glenmore Water Treatment Plant.

Those in the area might see water released at Shaganappi Pump Station and into the river as refilling is completed, a press release said.

Beginning March 24, construction will begin for a new steel pipe at 16th Avenue N.W. near 44th Street S.W. The city will set up a work area in the parking lot on the south side of 16th Avenue N.W. that will remain in place until the new pipe is in operation in December.

From March 24-25, there will be a single-lane closure eastbound on 16th Avenue N.W. in the area.

Beginning April 1 for approximately two weeks, and again in May and June, eastbound lanes will be closed in the area with one lane of traffic maintained in each direction, the city said.