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.

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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.

Budget and Finance

Making Cents of City Spending: A Guide to Owen Sound's 2026 Operating Budget

A brief guide to Owen Sound's annual operating budget, breaking down costs and showing where money is spent on essential services like public safety, roads, and community programs. 
It also explores how the city works to balance providing essential services with keeping taxes and fees affordable. 

With clear explanations and helpful visuals, this guide helps residents understand how financial decisions affect the community and the role residents play in the City's budget.

To view the Budget Guide book as a PDF, please click here.

2026 Mayors Tabled Budget December 22, 2025

Annual Organizational Work Plan

For the first time, the City has developed an Annual Organizational Work Plan to clearly outline the work being carried out across the organization in 2026.

The Annual Organizational Work Plan (AOWP) highlights:

  • Core services – the essential services City staff deliver every day to support residents, businesses, and visitors.

  • Planned projects and initiatives – the major initiatives and improvements the City will work on throughout the year.  This includes planned Capital Projects.

The projects and services included in the Work Plan support several important priorities, including:

  • Advancing the City’s 2050 Vision strategic priorities

  • Implementing recommendations from Master Plans and the 2023 Service Review

  • Addressing infrastructure needs identified in the Asset Management Plan

  • Delivering projects approved through the five-year Capital Plan and annual Operating Budget

While each project has a lead division, many initiatives require collaboration between multiple teams across the organization. The AOWP helps coordinate these efforts and ensures staff resources are focused on delivering the most important work for the community.

By bringing together core services and planned projects in one place, the Annual Organizational Work Plan provides a clear picture of what the City is working on and what residents can expect in the year ahead.

Click to view the Annual Organizational Work Plan 2026

For certain projects, the City of Owen Sound benefits from Infrastructure Canada's Canada Community Building Fund (formerly Gas Tax).

Contact Us

808 2nd Avenue East,
Owen Sound, ON
N4K 2H4
Phone: 519-376-1440
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