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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.
As spring approaches, Owen Sound residents can look forward to the maple sap running. Unfortunately, the best conditions for maple syrup making are the worst for roads! Freeze-thaw cycles due to daytime positive temperatures and nighttime lows are the best recipe for potholes. Staff are ready for them and are repairing damage in priority areas across the city. In the meantime, drivers should use caution and report any areas of concern.
City staff have temporarily closed the following trails in Harrison Park due to flooding and flooding damage:
With temperatures gradually rising and moisture being released from the accumulated snow, residents should double-check their homes to minimize the risk of water leaks and other damage.
As the snow melts, it will collect in natural and manmade collection systems such as storm sewers, ditches and creeks. Always be cautious of open water, as it may be deeper or more unstable than it appears.
In accordance with the Provincial Minimum Maintenance Standards, the City of Owen Sound is declaring an end to the Significant Weather Event that was issued on February 12, 2025.
The Good Cheer Rink at Harrison Park will be closed beginning Monday, March 10, 2025, due to current warm weather and sunny conditions.
The City appreciates the public's patience and understanding at this time. For regular updates about the Good Cheer Rink at Harrison Park, visit OwenSound.ca/PublicSkating and follow the City of Owen Sound on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The City of Owen Sound continues to make significant progress on its Climate Action Strategy, with over half of its planned initiatives either completed or currently in progress. While significant steps have been taken, the City acknowledges that ongoing efforts are required to achieve its long-term climate goals.
Owen Sound City Council approved a Short-Term Rental (STR) By-law on December 4, 2023, with licensing requirements taking effect on March 1, 2024. As part of the City’s ongoing commitment to the community, a one-year review of the STR licensing program survey is available and seeking public input.
Owen Sound’s Backflow Prevention Program helps keep municipal drinking water safe while providing a cost-saving opportunity for property owners. To support compliance with the Backflow Prevention By-law, the City is offering a limited-time subsidy to help cover the cost of installing premise isolation and fire protection backflow preventers.
The City of Owen Sound is working with regional partners and service providers to support an extension of the Guelph Owen Sound Transportation (GOST) bus service.
GOST is an intercommunity public transit service connecting Owen Sound and Guelph with additional stops in Chatsworth, Williamsford, Durham, Mount Forest, Arthur, Fergus and Elora.
Please be advised that the Strategic Planning Ad-hoc Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. will be rescheduled. The revised date will be updated on the City website in the coming days.
For more information, please contact Christina McLean, Recording Secretary to the Strategic Planning Ad-hoc Committee at 519-376-4440 ext. 1239 or email to cmclean@owensound.ca.
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