Calgary Infrastructure: Water Main Break Drowns Pizza Bae's New Year Hopes

CALGARY — The owner of Pizza Bae, Saud Abassi, became an unexpected hero when he rescued families from waist-high floodwaters caused by a broken water main on December 30, 2025, in Montgomery, northwest Calgary. The incident forced his business to close on New Year's Eve, a critical night for sales, due to a boil water advisory and ongoing restrictions, significantly impacting his pizzeria located on Bowness Road NW.

The Deeper Context

The water main break on 16th Avenue NW highlights persistent issues with Calgary's aging infrastructure. This incident, occurring just before New Year's Eve, underscores a broader pattern of infrastructure failures that have plagued the city. A similar event in June 2024, involving a major break in the Bearspaw feeder main, remains under repair, reflecting ongoing challenges in maintaining the city's water systems. Despite no specific city service request numbers being available, the economic repercussions are clear. Abassi's pizzeria, a local business barely three months old, now faces the threat of closure. The reliance on bottled water for operations and the disruption of regular business activities have exacerbated financial strains, drawing attention to the need for improved infrastructure reliability to support local enterprises.

The Critics & Costs

The water main break's impact extends beyond immediate financial losses for Pizza Bae. The incident has sparked criticism about Calgary's infrastructure management and the city's responsiveness to such crises. Local businesses, like Abassi's, are particularly vulnerable to these disruptions, with potential losses running into thousands of dollars due to closures and increased operational costs. The lack of specific city relief programs or aid applications for affected businesses further complicates recovery efforts. As the community rallies around Abassi for his heroic actions, there is a growing call for systemic improvements to prevent future occurrences and safeguard the economic vitality of local establishments.

Looking ahead, the city must address these infrastructure challenges to prevent further economic fallout for businesses like Pizza Bae. As Abassi navigates the aftermath of the flood, the focus shifts to how Calgary will bolster its infrastructure to protect its local economy and ensure the safety and stability of its communities.