Water Supply & System
The City of Chestermere receives treated drinking water from the City of Calgary as a regional water customer. Chestermere is one of eight communities connected to Calgary’s water supply system. Along with Airdrie and Strathmore, we are among the largest regional users outside Calgary.
Under the terms of the regional servicing agreement, Chestermere must implement the same water restriction stages as Calgary when they are enacted. This ensures consistent management across the regional system.
Chestermere’s water system distributes drinking water through a municipally owned and operated network. The City continually monitors water use, system performance, and regional supply conditions to ensure reliable service for residents and businesses.
Water Use in Chestermere
Chestermere receives water through two independent distribution feeds from Calgary. Either feed can supply the community’s average daily demand.
Average annual water demand is approximately 7.8 million litres per day which represents about 2% of Calgary’s total daily water demand. Water demand varies seasonally:
Summer:
- Average use: 9 million litres/day
- Peak use: 12 million litres/day
Winter:
- Average use: 6.8 million litres/day
- Peak use: 8 million litres/day
Water Infrastructure
Our water infrastructure is primarily built using PVC and HDPE pipe, which are non- metallic making it resistant to corrosion.
The City maintains approximately 126 kilometres of water mains, with ongoing investment in system renewal and expansion.
- Approximately 29 kilometres of mains were installed between 1970 and 1999.
- More than 97 kilometres were installed between 2020 and 2025.
Chestermere operates four reservoir cells with a combined storage capacity of approximately 13 million litres. Each reservoir cell can be isolated individually, and the system can be temporarily isolated from Calgary, providing approximately 1.5 days of emergency water storage.
Chestermere’s largest water main is 60 cm in diameter, with most mains being less than 40 cm. Smaller pipe diameters reduce repair complexity and improve the availability of repair materials.
Infrastructure planning is guided by the Utility Master Plan, last updated in 2024 and reviewed every five years. Based on current growth projections, major capacity expansions are not expected until Chestermere approaches a population of approximately 60,000.
The water system is monitored using an advanced SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) control system, which alerts certified operators to potential issues. Operators conduct daily system checks to ensure safe and reliable service.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Chestermere’s water system?
Most of Chestermere’s water system is relatively new.
The city maintains approximately 126 kilometres of water mains, with about 100 kilometres less than 26 years old. Most transmission mains have been installed since 2000.
Could a major watermain break occur in Chestermere?
Watermain breaks can happen in any community.
In Chestermere, breaks are usually tied to installation or bedding issues, not corrosion, as the system uses non-metallic pipe. When an issue does occur, the City’s system is designed to maintain service and limit impacts.
This is supported by built-in redundancy, including:
- Two independent water supply feeds from Calgary
- Two wastewater discharge pipes into Calgary
- Reservoir storage for added resilience
Either water feed can supply the City’s current average winter or summer demand.
How much water does Chestermere use compared to Calgary?
Chestermere uses about 2% of Calgary’s daily water demand.
All regional customers combined account for 8% of Calgary’s total system demand.
Does Chestermere have back-up capacity?
Yes. Chestermere has several levels of redundancy, including:
- Two independent water supply feeds from Calgary
- Four reservoir cells for local storage
- Approximately 1.5 days of emergency water capacity
- Two independent sanitary sewer discharge pipes
What is Chestermere’s water loss rate?
Chestermere’s estimated water loss rate is approximately 20%, which is similar to Calgary’s reported range of 20–25%.
Most losses are associated with aging copper service lines. The City manages this through:
- Annual system‑wide leak detection program
- Replacement of up to 12 copper service connections each year
- Additional funding in 2026 for enhanced leak detection equipment
Could water restrictions occur again?
Yes, water restrictions could occur again as Calgary continues to work on the feeder main upgrades.
Chestermere must follow the same water‑restriction stages as Calgary through the regional servicing agreement. Calgary is moving forward with planned reinforcements to support the stability of the current Bearspaw South Feeder Main (BSFM) starting March 9, 2026, which will require water restrictions. Click here to learn more.