The City of Calgary is sounding the alarm over a deceptive door-to-door scam that has recently surfaced, where individuals falsely claim to be city employees seeking to inspect water usage in homes. This warning comes as the city grapples with a significant water main break and works diligently to restore service.
On January 9, crews successfully installed a new pipe along the Bearspaw South Feeder Main following a major rupture that occurred on December 30. Although progress is being made, including the gradual filling of the new pipe with water, residents should be aware that it may take several more days before the water supply is fully restored. Currently, the first phase of this repair effort is approximately 75 percent complete.
To put things into perspective, on Friday, Calgarians collectively consumed 504 million liters of water—this figure exceeds the city’s sustainable usage threshold of 485 million liters by a notable margin of 19 million liters. This excessive consumption continues to strain the city's distribution system during an already critical situation.
In light of these developments, the City of Calgary has received multiple reports from residents who have been approached by individuals claiming to represent the city and requesting access to their homes to check water usage. It is essential to note that city officials are not conducting any such visits.
A spokesperson for the city emphasized, "If someone knocks on your door, claiming to be an employee of the city or ENMAX and asks to enter your home, please do not allow them inside." This statement was conveyed to 660 NewsRadio to ensure community awareness.
Interestingly, the Calgary police have decided not to comment on potential risks or preventive actions regarding this scam; they mentioned they are currently unaware of any formal reports related to such incidents. The city clarified that if there were a legitimate need for crews or employees to enter a resident’s property, they would first contact the homeowner via phone to schedule an appointment. Furthermore, any authentic city representative will arrive in a marked vehicle and display identification cards that can be verified.
This isn't the first time such scams have emerged; during the previous water shortage in 2024, residents encountered similar schemes where con artists posed as officials, providing misleading information while attempting to test residents’ water or meters.
Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and should report any suspicious activity by calling the non-emergency police line at 403-266-1234.
As the city continues its efforts to manage water resources effectively, it also urges Calgarians to conserve water by adopting simple habits: flush toilets only when necessary, limit showers to three minutes, and operate dishwashers and washing machines only with full loads. These small changes can make a significant difference.
