With Calgary's ongoing water emergency expected to last a few more weeks amid repair efforts, many have questioned whether or not the Calgary Stampede should be held this year.

During Monday's water update, the City confirmed the show will go on.

Coby Duerr, Deputy Chief of Calgary Emergency Management Agency, evoked the 2013 floods, another major water event that brought the 'Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth' into question.

"Folks are wondering if one of our biggest attractions of the year, the Calgary Stampede will be affected this year. Similar to the 2013 floods, the 2024 Stampede won't be cancelled. It just might look a little different."

He says previous years didn't see a major uptick in water usage.

"We've reviewed the five-year daily water demand trend during Stampede week, and we weren't seeing a significant uptick in demand noted during past years. This is due to two factors. During Stampede, we know Calgarians are also travelling elsewhere during their summer vacation plans. We also know the water use is weather-dependent and as we know from past years, many of us have been caught in this, early July can bring big storms, reducing the need for water outdoors."

The analysis of demand trends during past Stampedes will continue, says Duerr, as strategies to support Stampede are developed over the next few weeks.

He also addressed a major concern that's been voiced by Calgarians: more potential strain on the water system with the arrival of visitors to the city.

"Calgarians are worried that the sacrifices they are making will be exceeded by the water use of people coming into the city. The visitors coming to Calgary for Stampede, conventions, and all other reasons - Calgary is open to visitors. Come, eat here, shop here, and enjoy your time with us. We just ask that when you're in our city, you're one of us, and fight this problem with us. Follow our restrictions, make every drop count. Take three-minute showers or less. Take pictures and memories, but also take your laundry home with you when you go and don't do it here."

Joel Cowley, CEO of the Calgary Stampede, also spoke at the update.

He says a few measures are being taken to reduce or eliminate the use of Calgary-treated water.

"It's very important that it moves on for a number of reasons, the least of which is the $282 of economic impact generated for the province of Alberta during that 10-day festival. It's incredibly important and as such, the show will go on, but it will go on in a very responsible manner. Over the weekend and this morning, our management team and volunteer leaders have met to identify all of the places where we use water on Stampede Park during the Calgary Stampede and to the maximum extent possible, we will seek to offset the use of Calgary-treated water in those locations. That would involve both the use of non-potable water, which can be used for a number of reasons, we can use it to groom our track and our performance arenas, we can use it for some cleaning purposes with the proper additives as well. Also transporting in treated water, I would say, primarily, to support our livestock population that grows during the Calgary Stampede. On average, we have about 1,000 head of livestock on park each day."

Mayor Jyoti Gondek thanked Calgarians for their efforts over the weekend, with 438 million litres of water being used on Saturday and 439 million litres used on Sunday, remaining below the 480 million litre threshold.