‘No remedial actions need to take place, such as running taps or flushing systems, to restore home and building water systems. Residents can begin using tap water immediately, the city announcement said.<\/p>\n
Published Mar 16, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 11\u00a0hours ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 minute read<\/p>\n
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The precautionary boil water advisory for the Owen Sound water system has been lifted as of Monday, March 16, 2026.Article content<\/p>\n
The precautionary boil water advisory for Owen Sound issued Saturday night has been lifted.<\/p>\n
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The decision came Monday afternoon, after the city had announced earlier Monday that signs were positive to lift the boil water advisory Wednesday. The advisory was lifted in consultation with Grey\u00a0 Bruce Public Heath, the city\u2019s latest update said.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe precautionary boil water advisory for the City of Owen Sound has been lifted based on an engineering assessment, conducted by Public Health Ontario and the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), confirming adequate disinfection of the water. This confirms the water is safe to drink,\u201d the city announcement said.<\/p>\n
Turbid or cloudy water, caused by weather, runoff and lake conditions, have interfered with the drinking water treatment plant\u2019s disinfection processes, the city has said. Water users in the city and parts of Georgian Bluffs and western Meaford were affected.<\/p>\n
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This was \u201cprecautionary\u201d advisory, issued in this case due to the turbidity \u201cwhen there\u2019s no confirmed contamination, but one or more of the water-testing parameters indicate there could be a risk to public health.\u201d A standard boil water advisory is issued when harmful pathogens have been confirmed in the drinking water supply.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo remedial actions need to take place, such as running taps or flushing systems, to restore home and building water systems. Residents can begin using tap water immediately,\u201d the city announcement said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis includes using tap water directly for drinking, preparing food or beverages, making ice cubes, washing fruits and vegetables, brushing teeth or giving to pets. Water conservation efforts are still encouraged.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Limited supplies of free bottled water were available Monday afternoon at the public works building, 1900 20th St. E., courtesy of Bruce Power and Ice River Springs.<\/p>\n
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Owen Sound water distribution system operators, Ryan Bergeron, left, and Garrett Ramsay, loaded free cases of water into arriving cars at the city\u2019s public works building March 16, 2026. Photo by SCOTT DUNN \/THE SUN TIMES\/POSTMEDIA NETWORK<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, social service organizations including Grey County, the United Way, Supportive Outreach Services, OSHaRE and the Salvation Army were ensuring their vulnerable populations got bottled water.<\/p>\n
Local restaurants and those who care for vulnerable groups had to quickly pivot to contend with the tap water advisory.<\/p>\n
The boil water advisory was issued 6:30 p.m. Saturday, a \u201ctricky\u201d time for staff at Casero Kitchen Table, given it was dinnertime at the Mexican restaurant in downtown Owen Sound, owner Beth Milne said Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo that was a bit of a scramble, obviously, but nothing unmanageable. So at that point in our business, our food preparation\u2019s done for the evening. So it\u2019s just hand-washing which was easy, obviously. That just happens and that\u2019s an easy fix.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe just bought bottled water and bagged ice. So it\u2019s just a bit of a pivot. Just hope it doesn\u2019t last too long,\u201d Milne said.<\/p>\n
She said she suspects some people would be reluctant to eat out because the boil water advisory creates \u201can unknown, so I think people are going to be very cautious.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI do feel confident that what we\u2019re doing is safe. Hopefully it doesn\u2019t affect too much, especially since it\u2019s March Break. That\u2019s generally a busier week for restaurants and commercial businesses that we look forward to after the winter months.\u201d<\/p>\n
Milne called Grey Bruce Public Health Monday morning to ensure the restaurant was meeting its due diligence requirements, for example, regarding the restaurant\u2019s high-temperature dishwasher and sanitizers.<\/p>\n
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The health unit shared with her a fact sheet that her staff had already found Saturday night online to ensure the restaurant\u2019s procedures to contend with the boil water advisory were appropriate, she said. The fact sheet is posted in the restaurant for all staff to see.<\/p>\n
At Lee Manor, the Grey County-run long-term care home in Owen Sound, county spokesman Rob Hatten said staff were monitoring residents for any sign of gastrointestinal illness and none has been noted so far.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a policy and activate a contingency plan in the event of a water advisory. Our team responded immediately and pivoted to only bottled water for consumption and brushing teeth. As of this morning we brought a water truck on site to support our potable water needs.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Owen Sound\u2019s drinking water treatment plant, photographed March 16, 2026. Photo by SCOTT DUNN \/THE SUN TIMES\/POSTMEDIA NETWORK<\/p>\n
The local Canadian Mental Health Association closed its Fresh Roots cafe downtown to ensure safety and has taken steps to safeguard about 90 clients.<\/p>\n
CEO Steve Musehl said that even before the organization knew of the advisory, some CMHA Grey Bruce clients were informing others about it. CMHA is securing water, discussing precautions to take and case managers were reaching out to clients to help if needed Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe they don\u2019t have transportation to get water. We know bottled water is challenging to get in Owen Sound right now, so much need for it,\u201d said Musehl, noting challenges in that regard based on what he\u2019s seen on social media.<\/p>\n
Owen Sound co-ordinated a Zoom meeting on Monday of organizations that support more vulnerable people to identify needs and share resources, he said. OSHaRE has offered to help provide water to agencies during the boil water advisory, Musehl said.<\/p>\n
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\u201cHopefully it\u2019s over sooner than later,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Owen Sound Water Depot store owner Josh Boggie uses disinfected city water to refill big water jugs people bring in. He said he uses reverse osmosis membranes, ozone recirculation and tertiary ultra-violate disinfection to ensure the city water\u2019s safe to drink.<\/p>\n
The store isn\u2019t seeing a lot of new customers as a result of the precautionary boil-water advisory in Owen Sound. People are more likely to buy water from grocery stores before coming to him, he said. But when the advisory is lifted, he will sterilize his equipment.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo this boil water advisory will likely cost me thousands of dollars,\u201d he said. Some of that cost will be incurred to replace membranes in the reverse osmosis system, he said. He said no one requires him to do that but he intends to do it, \u201cout of an abundance of caution.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd so I\u2019m very confident that our water is absolutely fine but we will be following all procedures, which we have a two inch binder on, after. We\u2019ll be following up with laboratory tests at a couple different points in my train of water equipment. And gutting everything and sterilizing everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
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