Officials Clarify Cause of Owen Sound Boil Water Advisory as Businesses Seek Answers
Officials say elevated turbidity prompted Owen Sound’s boil water advisory, while some food and beverage-serving businesses report they were not directly notified of the order.
Nearly 24 hours after a precautionary boil water advisory was issued, officials with the City of Owen Sound and Grey Bruce Public Health have provided additional details about the issue affecting users of the municipal water system.
The advisory was issued Saturday at 6:00 p.m. after elevated turbidity — or cloudiness in the water — was observed at the city’s water treatment plant.
Officials say no pathogens such as E. coli or coliform bacteria have been detected in the treated drinking water. However, elevated turbidity can interfere with the disinfection process used during treatment because suspended particles can shield microorganisms from disinfectants.
During a boil water advisory, residents are advised to bring tap water to a rolling boil for at least one minute before using it for drinking, brushing teeth, preparing food or beverages, washing fruits and vegetables, or making ice.
Treatment Plant Operating At Reduced Capacity
According to the City of Owen Sound, the water treatment plant is currently functioning but operating under constraints.
Officials say infrastructure upgrades to redundant equipment, combined with changing weather conditions affecting raw water quality from Georgian Bay, are limiting the plant’s ability to process enough water to meet typical demand while maintaining turbidity parameters.
City staff say filters are still able to meet turbidity targets, but only at reduced flow rates and with increased backwash cycling.
Those reduced flow rates make it more difficult to meet typical water demand and ensure sufficient supply in case of emergencies such as fires or water main breaks.
What Triggered The Advisory
Provincial regulations require water system operators to report filter turbidity levels above 1.0 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU) to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and to Grey Bruce Public Health.
Decisions about issuing advisories are made in consultation between the city, the province, and public health officials.
Officials say the precautionary boil water advisory was issued after turbidity levels in treated water exceeded that threshold. They did not provide the specific turbidity readings observed at the plant or the typical turbidity levels normally seen in the system.
A spokesperson for the City stated by email, “Please note, the precautionary boil water advisory was issued due to turbidity test results, not microbiological test results.” They added that the most recent microbiological testing results were received Thursday, March 12, and were all within compliance.
The City says enhanced testing — including increased bacteriological sampling — will be conducted at the treatment plant for the duration of the advisory.
Dishwashing Guidance Clarified
Officials also clarified guidance on washing dishes during the advisory.
For dishes washed by hand:
Wash and rinse dishes in hot tap water
Soak them for one minute in a dilute bleach solution (20 millilitres of household bleach in 10 litres of water)
Allow them to air dry
Some domestic dishwashers — and all commercial dishwashers — are designed and certified to sanitize dishes.
Residents are advised to consult the manufacturer’s instructions for their appliance. If a dishwasher does not include a sanitizing function, officials recommend soaking dishes in the bleach solution after they have been washed in the dishwasher.
Several Food Service Businesses Say They Were Not Notified Directly
In reporting this story, Owen Sound Current visited food service businesses throughout the day Sunday and spoke with several people who own or manage bars and restaurants in Owen Sound.
Six owners or managers said they did not receive any official notification about the boil water advisory from either the City of Owen Sound or Grey Bruce Public Health, and learned about it through local media coverage or word of mouth from peers.
Two restaurants visited during lunchtime Sunday were serving food and beverages as usual, roughly 18 hours after the advisory was issued. The businesses are not being identified because they said they were unaware a boil water advisory was in effect.
Questions About Business Outreach
After encountering restaurants operating without knowing the advisory was in place, Owen Sound Current emailed both the City of Owen Sound and Grey Bruce Public Health asking whether there had been direct outreach to businesses to ensure they were aware.
In response, City Manager Tim Simmonds said by email that he had confirmed Grey Bruce Public Health sent the advisory to restaurants the previous day.
When asked whether those notices were sent by email and whether any additional outreach — such as phone calls or door-to-door notification — had taken place since the precautionary boil water advisory was issued, Simmonds replied that those questions should be directed to Grey Bruce Public Health.
Among the six restaurant owners or managers who spoke with Owen Sound Current Sunday, only one said they were subscribed to receive official updates from the city.
One restaurant owner said the lack of information is making it difficult to plan.
“We’re not even sure if we can open tomorrow,” the owner said, adding that businesses need clarification as soon as possible from officials about the severity of the issue and how long the advisory may last.
Bottled Water Selling Out Across City
Meanwhile, grocery stores across the city have reported strong demand for bottled water throughout the day.
Several stores have been restocking repeatedly as deliveries arrive, with flats of bottled water selling out within minutes. Some locations have even posted notices indicating when delivery trucks are expected so customers know when more water will be available.
Areas Outside Owen Sound Also Affected
The advisory applies to all users of the City of Owen Sound municipal water system, including some residents in neighbouring municipalities connected to the system.
Officials say this includes:
Some residents in the Highway 6 and 10 area and the Village of Leith in the Municipality of Meaford
Residents in parts of Georgian Bluffs, including the Creamery Hill/Grey Road 5 and Keppel-Sarawak areas
When The Advisory Could Be Lifted
Officials say lifting the advisory will depend on several factors.
Those include:
Water quality testing results
The treatment plant’s ability to maintain turbidity targets
Water production capacity
Reservoir levels within the system
The decision will be made in consultation with Grey Bruce Public Health and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
The precautionary advisory will remain in effect until officials determine the water supply is safe to consume without boiling. Typically, boil water advisories remain in place until multiple rounds of testing confirm the water is safe and the treatment system is operating normally.
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