Heavy runoff from milder temperatures and heavy rain combined with ice cover led to situation<\/p>\n
Published Mar 15, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 minute read<\/p>\n
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A precautionary boil water advisory remained in effect on Sunday, March 15, 2026 for users on the City of Owen Sound’s system. FileArticle content<\/p>\n
A number of factors will need to occur before a precautionary boil water advisory can be lifted in Owen Sound, says the city\u2019s manager.<\/p>\n
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Tim Simmonds said in an e-mailed response to questions on Sunday afternoon that the protocol for lifting the advisory considers a number of elements, including how the treatment system is operating and the quality of the source water at the city\u2019s intake in Georgian Bay. It will be done in consultation with Grey Bruce Public Health and the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, he said.<\/p>\n
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Lifting the advisory will not be based on just one issue alone, such as turbidity, and will require a combination of factors including water quality and testing, water production capability and finally water totals in the system\u2019s reservoirs, Simmonds said.<\/p>\n
The city announced at around 6 p.m. on Saturday that a precautionary boil water advisory had been issued for the city\u2019s water system, which includes Owen Sound, the village of Leith in Meaford and areas of Georgian Bluffs connected to the city\u2019s system.<\/p>\n
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The advisory, issued along with Grey Bruce Public Health, came after cloudiness was observed in the water at the city\u2019s water treatment plant. High levels of turbidity can interfere with disinfection, which is one component of water treatment, the city release said.<\/p>\n
While the advisory is in place, all water should be brought to a rolling boil for one minute before using it for drinking, preparing food or beverages, making ice cubes, washing fruits and vegetables, or brushing teeth, the release said. This is particularly important for young children, older adults and people who are immuno-compromised to protect their health, the city said.<\/p>\n
In addition to boiling water, the city asked all residents, as well as anyone who lives or works in a building connected to the city\u2019s water system, to reduce their water use, which aids in required remedial actions. The water currently continues to meet all other quality and testing standards, the city says.<\/p>\n
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In the update provided by Simmonds on Sunday it said what the city has experienced is primarily a source water issue, with the water coming into the plant having a very high level of turbidity, making it much harder to treat efficiently.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile the plant itself has continued to operate and is functioning properly, the rate at which water could be safely filtered and treated was challenged by the quality of the incoming water,\u201d Simmonds\u2019 e-mail said. \u201cIn simple terms, poorer source water takes longer and more effort to process.\u201d<\/p>\n
The primary cause of the poor source water conditions was largely driven by the warmer temperatures and heavy rainfall last weekend that increased runoff into the bay.<\/p>\n
Particles causing cloudiness can include dirt or soil, silt and clay, algae, organic material and microorganisms, the city said.<\/p>\n
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While similar levels of runoff have been experienced in the past, that it occurred while ice cover was still on the bay, likely added to the challenges, the city said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ice cover made it more difficult to see the extent of the poor-quality water, where it was coming from (north or south), and how long it might persist based on wind and current conditions,\u201d Simmonds said. \u201cWe believe the ice cover was a significant contributing factor to why these poor water conditions lasted longer than we would typically expect.\u201d<\/p>\n
The city said it 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.<\/p>\n
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The advisory will be lifted when the water is confirmed to be safe to consume, the city says.<\/p>\n
Residents will be notified when advisory notice is lifted at OwenSound.ca\/News. Residents can also subscribe by e-mail at owensound.ca\/subscribe for future updates regarding the advisory, the city said.<\/p>\n
The city has asked everyone to share the information with any contacts that use Owen Sound\u2019s water system.<\/p>\n
The city advises that adults, teens, and older children can wash, bathe, or shower; however, they should avoid swallowing the water. Toddlers and infants should be sponge bathed, the city said.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not necessary to boil tap water used for other household purposes, such as showering, laundry, bathing or washing dishes, the release added.<\/p>\n
The city release adds that domestic dishwashers may not adequately disinfect dishes. If dishes are washed by hand, they should be washed and rinsed in hot tap water, then soaked in a dilute solution of household bleach (20 millilitres of bleach in 10 litres of water) for one minute, and air dried.<\/p>\n
Drinking water directly from the tap is not recommended and could potentially result in illness, the city said.<\/p>\n
The city\u2019s Richard H. Neath Water Purification plant, located on East Bayshore Road, is a direct filtration surface water treatment plant that draws its water from Georgian Bay.<\/p>\n
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