When the City of Calgary’s water infrastructure unexpectedly failed after a 78-inch water main broke, creating a crisis, a fellow water utility quickly stepped up to help.

As the City of Calgary implemented restrictions to conserve water, one of its engineers called on a former colleague working for the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) to ask for a specific pipe to help with the repair efforts. Quickly, SDCWA prepared a pair of 24-foot sections of pipe to be picked up and transported 1,600 miles from San Diego to Calgary.

“We live with the risk of similar failures every day,” said Martin Coghill, SDCWA’s operations and maintenance manager. “When it happens to someone else, you empathize. Not many agencies have large-diameter pipes like these, so it felt natural to help.”

“We are grateful to our crews, contractors and other municipalities, including San Diego County, for supporting us in our time of need,” said Francois Bouchart, director of capital priorities and investment with the City of Calgary.

“We live with the risk of similar failures every day,” said Martin Coghill, SDCWA’s operations and maintenance manager. “When it happens to someone else, you empathize. Not many agencies have large-diameter pipes like these, so it felt natural to help.”

While it didn’t play a part in this situation, there is a network of water utilities that help other utilities respond to and recover from emergencies. The Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN) is a way for water/wastewater utilities dealing with or expecting damages from natural or human-caused incidents to offer or receive help in the form of personnel, equipment, materials and other associated services as necessary from other water/wastewater utilities.