Boil Water Advisory Issued Across Owen Sound & Nearby Areas Connected to City Water System
Owen Sound has issued a precautionary boil water advisory for all municipal water users after high turbidity levels were detected at the city’s water treatment plant.
A precautionary boil water advisory has been issued for all residents and consumers using the City of Owen Sound municipal water system following elevated turbidity levels detected at the city’s water treatment plant.
The advisory was announced by the City of Owen Sound at about 6 p.m. Saturday, March 14, based on guidance from Grey Bruce Public Health.
According to the city, higher-than-normal turbidity — a measure of water cloudiness caused by suspended particles — was observed at the treatment plant. While the water continues to meet all other quality and testing standards, elevated turbidity can interfere with the disinfection process used during water treatment.
As a precaution, residents are being asked to bring tap water to a rolling boil for at least one minute before using it for drinking, preparing food or beverages, making ice, washing fruits and vegetables, or brushing teeth.
The city noted that drinking water directly from the tap during the advisory could potentially result in illness.
The precaution is particularly important for young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.
Boiling water is not required for most other household uses such as showering, bathing, laundry, or washing dishes. However, adults and older children should avoid swallowing water while bathing or showering, and toddlers and infants should be sponge bathed.
Dishwashers may not adequately disinfect dishes during the advisory. Public health guidance states that dishes washed by hand should be cleaned and rinsed in hot tap water, then soaked for one minute in a dilute bleach solution consisting of 20 millilitres of household bleach in 10 litres of water before air drying.
The advisory applies to the entire City of Owen Sound and to areas outside the city connected to the municipal water system, including the Village of Leith in the Municipality of Meaford and parts of Georgian Bluffs.
City officials are conducting increased water quality testing and working with Grey Bruce Public Health to monitor conditions and assess any potential health risk.
Residents and businesses connected to the municipal water system are also being asked to reduce water use while the advisory is in effect to support remedial actions underway.
The city says residents will be notified when the advisory is lifted once testing confirms the water is safe to consume. Updates will be posted on the city’s website.
Related:
