REGINA — The City of Regina is on pace to have a normal year for water main breaks.
Carolyn Kalim, City of Regina director of water, waste and environment, said the city has recorded about 53 water main breaks so far in 2026, putting it on pace for a typical year.
“I would say our five-year average for water breaks is approximately 381 breaks per year.”
This follows a year in which the city recorded 426 breaks, a 13 per cent increase over the five-year average.
Regina has several factors contributing to hundreds of water main breaks yearly, noted Kalim.
“We do always have changing temperatures and of course, with our clay soil, we do see changing temperatures really impacting the rate of our breaks.”
Water main breaks most commonly occur in January and February, as well as during the fall.
“We are getting a lot more freeze-thaw cycles within the winter,” she said.
Kalim added, “In the fall, it's really driven by having some long, prolonged dry spells.”
Water main breaks for the city come at a price, as an average water main break can cost $10,000 to $15,000.
During peak periods for water main breaks, Kalim acknowledged they can place added pressure on the city’s ability to meet its other operational commitments.
As it stands, the city replaces roughly 10 kilometres of water pipes yearly.
Kalim said Regina will continue having to look at where it makes more sense to invest between capital and maintenance.
“We do try to look at what the best practices are, where that investment makes the most sense, and then also balancing the understanding that residents are impacted by increases to our utility rates and trying to find that proper balance.”
Dolphin Bay update
The city is currently responding to a water main leak that occurred Sunday along Dolphin Bay.
Kalim said city crews managed to control the leak, but it continued accelerating to the point where the main had to be shut off.
“Residents were issued a drinking water notification, and crews are in today, and the repair work should be finished by the end of the day.”
Once repairs are completed, the city will test the water to ensure it’s safe.
“Those results will be available tomorrow. If they're good, then they will get a new notification letting them know that their drinking water notification is completed, and they can go back to their regular usage.”
