Water pressure in Calgary

Troubleshooting water pressure problems

Check your taps

If you have lower pressure than expected, your faucet could be plugged with debris:

• Unscrew aerator from faucet and remove screen
• Soak screen in vinegar for 10-15 minutes
• If screen fizzles, then carbonate is present, which is a result of naturally occurring minerals in the water and is harmless

Check the main shut-off valve

Check the main shut-off valve to ensure it is fully opened.

The main shut-off valve is usually located either close to the water tank (in the basement, near the floor) or should be below the water meter where the main water line enters your home.

Check tap valves

Ensure the shutoff valves under your sinks are in full open position.

Check the pressure reducing valve

Homes built after 1990 in areas of over 80 PSI are equipped with a pressure reducing valve (PRV).

The PRV keeps the house plumbing from becoming over-pressured. High water pressure may be caused by a PRV that is over five years old and requires service.

Check water softener

If you have pressure issues with cold water and have a water softener, bypass the softener and see if pressure increases. If so, your water softener is the issue and a plumber will need to be called.

Check irrigation or sprinkler system

If you have an irrigation system that is active (for example: in the summer) check for leaks as this could be the cause of your pressure issue.

We suggest performing a "blow out" before winter to prevent sprinkler lines from bursting. During spring, it is common to experience low water pressure after turning back on the sprinkler system due to trapped air in the lines. Letting the line run for a while should improve the pressure.

Check for water maintenance work

Your water pressure may be temporarily affected by water maintenance work in your area. Look for a City notice or water crews working near your home Some examples of work that could affect water pressure are water main breaks or a fire hydrant being used.

Check for frozen water lines

In winter, if there is a gradual decrease in pressure, it could be a sign of frozen water lines. See our tips for dealing with Frozen Water Lines.

Problems with hot water pressure only

If you are experiencing issues with hot water only, please contact a plumber.

If you have further inquiries about your water pressure, please call 311 or complete an online 311 request below.

Water - Pressure Issues

Water pressure in Calgary

Citizens in lower elevations will have higher pressure as the weight of the water above your location pushes down creating higher pressure.

Calgary may be a prairie city, but we have elevation differences of almost 300 metres between our highest and lowest residences.

This means we need to regulate water pressure of our system with "zones" that supply an approximate range of pressure between 25 metres (35 Psi) and 75 metres (100 Psi).

Choosing the top and bottom elevations for our pressure zones occurred many years ago, this means the city is divided into dozens of major water pressure zones.

Managing Calgary's water pressure

The ranges of pressures in the different pressure zones are established by the elevations of existing reservoirs and pump stations. These systems are all interconnected and dependent on each other.

Where pressure begins to exceed 70 metres (100 Psi) in the system, pressure reducing valves have been installed to keep the system from over-pressuring itself, which can lead to increased water loss (leaks) and other issues. Where these valves are installed, we have some ability to reduce pressure, but cannot raise pressure.

The system is also designed to ensure adequate pressure throughout the city for fire protection; our pressure zones allow the Fire Department to pump a lot of water in a very short time if required.

Our pressure system is a finely-tuned balance of providing water at a satisfactory pressure for customers, reducing pipe leaks and breaks through lowered pressures and maintaining consistent flow for fire emergencies.