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Precautionary Boil Water Advisory and Residents Asked to Temporarily Reduce Use of Water in City of Owen Sound
As advised by Grey Bruce Public Health, the City of Owen Sound has issued a precautionary boil water advisory for all residents and consumers using the municipal water system. This is a precautionary measure due to high levels of turbidity (cloudiness in the water) observed at the water treatment plant. High levels of turbidity can interfere with disinfection, which is one component of water treatment. The water currently continues to meet all other quality and testing standards.
While the precautionary boil water advisory is in place, please bring all water to a rolling boil for one (1) minute before using it for drinking, preparing food or beverages, making ice cubes, washing fruits and vegetables, or brushing teeth. This is particularly important for young children, older adults and people who are immuno-compromised to protect their health.
It’s not necessary to boil tap water used for other household purposes, such as showering, laundry, bathing or washing dishes.
Drinking water directly from the tap is not recommended and could potentially result in illness.
In addition to boiling water, the City of Owen Sound is asking all residents, as well as anyone who lives or works in a building connected to the City’s water system, to reduce their water use. This request will aid in required remedial actions.
This impacts the entire City of Owen Sound as well as parts of Meaford (Village of Leith) and Georgian Bluffs who are connected to the City of Owen Sound water system.
The City of Owen Sound is monitoring the water quality closely with increased testing and working with Grey Bruce Public Health to assess the potential risk to health and ensure appropriate mitigation measures are in place.
Residents will be notified when the precautionary boil water advisory notice is lifted at OwenSound.ca/News. This will occur when the water is confirmed to be safe to consume.
Please share this information with contacts who use the municipal water system in the City of Owen Sound.
Notice to Ratepayers Regarding Water Bills
March 6, 2026: Some water bills are currently delayed and will be issued shortly. We are working on the issue and will have them available as soon as possible. Bills will be due 21 days after mailout day; ratepayers will not be charged a penalty if paid within this timeframe. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through this issue.
To confirm, register, or amend your information, visit Register to Vote Ontario until August 14, 2026. Our Municipal Election Day is October 26, 2026.
The City is pleased to announce that the proceeds from the Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada event have officially been distributed to Community Foundation Grey Bruce and will be held in perpetuity. The interest earned from the funds will support projects helping children in Owen Sound who are facing financial barriers to playing hockey.
Owen Sound Fire & Emergency Services is pleased to announce a partnership with Troy Life & Fire Safety for a public education campaign called Saved by the Beep. The initiative recognizes Thursday, September 28, 2023, as Ontario’s first ‘Test Your Smoke Alarm Day’.
Owen Sound residents are reminded that they can report concerns to the City using the online form by visiting OwenSound.ca/ReportAConcern. Completing the online form is a convenient and efficient way to receive information or address any issues. City staff will respond to issues based on priority.
In honour of what will be Tom Thomson’s 146th birthday on August 5, the Art Gallery is excited to announce the launch of a new online digital database of artworks. The database includes three Tom Thomson paintings purchased by the Lyceum Club and Women's Art Association of Owen Sound in 1927 from the Estate of Tom Thomson.
To address climate change in our area, Owen Sound’s City Council has approved a Climate Action Strategy that will guide the municipality forward in reaching its goal of becoming net zero by 2050.
City Council has passed amendments to the Traffic By-law to include school zones at most of the City’s schools. By-law No. 2023-092 is an amendment to Traffic By-law No. 2009-075 to include various school zones with speed limits of 30 kilometres per hour between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
In response to a fulsome Service Review conducted in 2022, the City of Owen Sound has developed a Service Review Priority Opportunity Action Plan to ensure the municipality’s financial and organizational resources are being used as efficiently as possible. Council received the Action Plan on Monday, July 17, and noted that the Actions will achieve direct and indirect savings of approximately $2 million over the current term of Council, equivalent to ten per cent of the gross operating budget.
In response to the ongoing warm temperatures, the City of Owen Sound reminds residents that there are public places available throughout the City to keep cool. Cooling centres can be found at the following locations:
On behalf of City Council, I condemn recent events that maliciously attack the 2S-LGBTQQIAP+ Community or any citizen of Owen Sound, regardless of their religious beliefs or ethnic background. These actions are not acceptable, not tolerated and do not reflect Owen Sound’s core values.
The City of Owen Sound recognizes the need to have ready access to clean, safe public washrooms as a vital part of personal and public health and as fundamental to human dignity, especially for people who are restroom challenged.
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