Classes resume, water conservation continues

With classes resuming and students headed back to campus, a reminder that Calgary remains under Stage 4 Water Restrictions. This follows a catastrophic water main break on Dec. 30, 2025, which places the city in a highly vulnerable position for maintaining potable water flow.

Repairs are underway and expected to be finished mid-month. For the time being, citizens are being asked to conserve water to ensure sufficient supplies for urgent needs and emergencies. 

All Calgarians are asked to take action to reduce water usage, including: 

• Limit showers to three minutes
• Skip flushes when you can
• Wash only full loads of dishes and laundry
• Turn off water while brushing your teeth   
• Heat water in a kettle vs running water via a tap where possible

UCalgary is doing its part by actively taking steps to reduce daily water usage by 25 per cent. We encourage all members of the campus community to reduce their daily water usage to help us achieve this conservation goal and to support the broader community. Together, we can make a difference. 

UCalgary Water Restrictions FAQ

Since the critical water shortage began on Dec. 30, UCalgary has actively worked to reduce the amount of water it draws from city infrastructure:

• The Aquatic Centre pool was reopened on Jan. 3, and will only be refilled as needed. Steam rooms are closed.
• Showers in Kinesiology remain operational and users are encouraged to take shorter (less than three minutes) showers.
• Those living in residence are asked to limit water use when showering, or doing laundry and dishes.
• Caretaking teams have adjusted their cleaning schedules to minimize water usage.
• Research teams are investigating ways to reduce water use.
• The entire campus community is asked to watch for water leakage and immediately report any issues online through myfacilities.ucalgary.ca or by calling 403.220.7555.