Calgary is in a stage of water repairs after major pipe ruptures, with water restrictions running through about the end of November as Grey Cup festival events lead up to Edmonton vs. Montreal on Sunday.
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Calgary has put water restrictions in place beginning Nov. 4 as the city moves through the final repair stage of a problematic water main that has twice ruptured in the last two years, and officials say they do not expect challenges meeting the limits over Grey Cup.
The city says people are being asked to take shorter showers, make fewer toilet flushes and run only full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher, while businesses are also expected to limit their water use. City officials said Thursday Calgary has stayed below its set threshold of 500 million litres of water used per day since the restrictions started.
As festival events get underway in the run-up to the Canadian Football League championship game on Sunday, the Edmonton Elks will play the Montreal Alouettes. Organizers said Calgary is expected to host up to 350,000 fans, including about 35,000 visitors from across Canada, and another 6,000 hotel room nights have been booked.
In Calgary pubs and breweries, some operators say the restrictions are unlikely to affect Grey Cup beer supply because brewing happens weeks ahead of time. Bottlescrew Bill’s general manager and co-owner Geoff Allan said, “We’re trending so that we shouldn’t be running out of our own product,” adding that the pub could buy similar items from other suppliers if needed.
Bottlescrew Bill’s head brewer Melissa Pawlak said brewing normally uses about 2,000 litres of water per brew, and that the team cut that in half by halting a system that is not as water efficient.
Kampus Brewing, located a short drive from McMahon Stadium, said it is expecting a busy weekend. General manager Chris Schneider said the brewery is “well stocked” and that “We have a lot of regulars here that love CFL and love the Grey Cup.”
City officials noted the restrictions are not new for Calgary: the Bearspaw South Feeder Main issues previously triggered water rules before the Calgary Stampede in 2024, and rules were also in place over New Year’s Eve in 2025, with rules in past years generally lifting after major events began.
Hotel operators say they are preparing for visitor questions about the rules. John O’Connell, general manager of the downtown Hyatt Regency Calgary, said one of the most common comments from visitors is that they do not know about the water restrictions, but that “once we inform them, it seems like everyone’s happy to do their part.” He said posters at the hotel inform guests of the rules and guests are only served water at the attached restaurant when requested.
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