Summary#

On June 30, 2026, Calgary City Council adopted this item on the consent agenda, receiving the City’s second quarterly Water Transformation Program report for the Corporate Record. This records the update; it does not approve new water rules or a new program. City staff say the program’s goal is to carry out recommendations from the Bearspaw South Feedermain Independent Review Panel.

• The revised implementation plan keeps all the Panel’s recommendations but reorganizes the work into outcome-focused workstreams.
• City staff moved some financial-transparency and rate-setting work into 2027, including segmented financial reporting and economic regulation.
• Work to replace the Bearspaw South Feedermain is reported as on schedule, with the goal of putting it into service by December 2026.
• City staff say all items are on track or complete under the revised timelines. The next quarterly update is planned for September.

What it means for you#

• Calgarians and water customers: This decision does not directly change water rates, water service, or customer obligations.
• Residents and businesses near 34 Avenue N.W.: City staff report that construction is underway and may cause localized impacts. The report says advance notice and outreach are being used.
• Council and City staff: City staff will continue implementing earlier Council directions and report again in September. This decision only received the report for the record.

Money#

The report says there is no anticipated financial impact from this quarterly update.

• It gives no cost estimate for the wider transformation program or the feedermain replacement.

What is unclear#

• The report refers to a revised implementation plan and status report in attachments, but their detailed schedules and milestones are not included in the supplied material.
• It does not give a target date for the Integrated Resource Plan or say when the delayed financial and rate-setting work will be completed in 2027.
• The report does not provide the cost of the wider work or explain how future water rates may be affected.

Case for#

• City staff say grouping the recommendations into workstreams should improve coordination and accountability while keeping their intent and scope unchanged.
• City staff say adjusting timelines to match the onboarding of the Water Utility Chief Operating Officer and Oversight Board will reduce implementation risk.
• City staff report that feedermain replacement work is progressing on schedule, with the project expected to be in service by December 2026.

Case against#

• The Advisory Group says delays in preparing segmented financial statements are holding back work on economic regulation and rate setting.
• The Advisory Group says the Chair of the Oversight Board and the Chief Operating Officer are critical hires, and urges their recruitment to be expedited.
• The Advisory Group notes there will be no utility-based budget process for 2026 and warns that cumulative delays may weaken transparency and clarity in decision-making.