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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.
Marked annually in Canada on April 28, the City of Owen Sound recognizes the National Day of Mourning to remember and honour those lives lost or injured due to a workplace tragedy. In honour of this day, flags at all City facilities (excluding City Hall’s community flagpole) are currently lowered to half-mast until the end of the day.
Coinciding with Arbour Day, Owen Sound is thrilled to once again be recognized as a 2024 Tree City of the World by the Arbour Day Foundation and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Owen Sound is one of only 21 Canadian cities recognized, and one of only 210 cities worldwide.
The first of eight Household Hazardous Waste Day events of 2025 is this Saturday, April 26! The event will be held at the Owen Sound Public Works Facility (1900 20th Street East) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The complete schedule of Household Hazardous Waste Days in 2025 includes the following Saturdays: April 26, May 24, June 14, July 12, August 16, September 13, October 4, and October 25.
When attending the events, and to help keep the line moving as quickly as possible, residents are asked to bring valid ID indicating that their home address is in one of the participating municipalities listed below and bring a filled-out Household Hazardous Waste Form. The form can be printed at home and is available on the City’s website at OwenSound.ca/WasteForm.
This very popular program is open to residents from the following participating partner municipalities:
A full list of accepted materials is available at OwenSound.ca/Waste. Please note that the following is not accepted:
Residents are reminded that improperly contained waste, such as compromised containers, missing lids, and leaking materials, should never be transported. They pose a health and safety risk and will not be accepted. Before bringing the original container to the site, safely place it in a clean, labelled container.
Earth Day Grey Bruce is hosting a community Earth Day event on Saturday, April 26. To accommodate the festivities, the 800 block of 1st Avenue West will be fully closed to vehicular traffic from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
The City of Owen Sound is inviting young artists to show off their creativity and celebrate the upcoming launch of the City’s Green Bin program with a fun and eco-friendly Green Bin Colouring Contest. Open to anyone under 18 who lives in or attends school in Owen Sound, the contest encourages youth to get creative while learning about the Green Bin program, the importance of composting and waste reduction.
Please be advised that City Council will hold a Special Council meeting on Monday, April 28, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
The purpose of the Special Council meeting is for Council members to receive education respecting strong mayor powers.
The Special Council meeting agenda will be available for review prior to the meeting and the meeting will be livestreamed on the Council and Committee page on the City’s website.
For more information, please contact Allison Penner, Deputy Clerk at 519-376-4440 ext. 1235 or email to apenner@owensound.ca
The City of Owen Sound is conducting fire hydrant flow testing throughout the city this week. This important work helps assess water pressure levels at fire hydrants across the City’s water distribution system. During testing, residents may notice temporary changes in water pressure or slight discolouration in tap water. This is a normal part of the process. Despite these temporary effects, City water remains safe to drink.
As the long Easter weekend approaches, the City is sharing important updates on facility closures and adjusted hours.
Mayor Ian Boddy received the Municipal Government Stewardship Award from the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council (CNIC) on Tuesday evening as part of the Canadian Nuclear Association’s conference in Ottawa. The award recognizes the excellence of an elected official who has emerged as a leader in promoting regional isotope production, workforce and talent development, and partnerships to strengthen the regional supply chain.
Owen Sound residents are invited to take an online survey about the quality, reliability, and availability of City-owned infrastructure such as sports fields, playgrounds, roads, sidewalks, and community centres.
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