Alberta Water Restrictions 2026

Water restrictions in Alberta are managed municipally— there is no provincial framework. Calgary’s water comes from the Bow River and the Elbow River through the Bearspaw and Glenmore Water Treatment Plants, both managed by City of Calgary Water Services. Edmonton’s water comes from the North Saskatchewan River, managed by EPCOR Water Services. Each city operates an independent restriction framework.

Calgary — mandatory year-round schedule (new in 2026):on April 29, 2026, Calgary City Council approved a permanent year-round outdoor watering schedule under the Water Utility Bylaw (40M2006). Sprinkler watering is now limited to 3 days per week (45 hours per week total), in the cooler 7 PM – 10 AM window. The plan targets a 20% reduction in per-capita demand by 2040.

Edmonton — no active restrictions: EPCOR operates a 4-stage drought response system (Stage 1 voluntary through Stage 4 outdoor ban) but has not declared any active stage. Triggers include heat waves, infrastructure outages, spring runoff water quality issues, and low river levels.

Surrounding municipalities already mandatory: Airdrie, Okotoks, Cochrane, Chestermere, and Strathmore have operated mandatory year-round watering schedules for years. Calgary’s 2026 bylaw catches the city up to regional norms.

Bearspaw South Feeder Main — the trigger event:the feeder main carries 60% of Calgary’s treated water and has had 3 emergency shutdowns in the past 2 years, including a December 2025 rupture through a major roadway. Combined with rapid population growth and 22% leak losses in 2024, the city decided permanent demand-side management was needed alongside the $354 million 4-year leak detection and pipe renewal investment.

Snowpack 2026:Bow River basin snowpack tracked at 65–75% of normal at spring peak — below average but not crisis-level. The North Saskatchewan basin tracked similarly. Glenmore Reservoir entered May 2026 at typical spring levels.

HOA / condo protections:Alberta condominium corporations cannot impose landscape rules that conflict with municipal bylaws. Calgary’s schedule supersedes condo bylaws requiring lawn watering outside the permitted window.