A precautionary boil water advisory in the Owen Sound is continuing to affect local businesses and workers as the situation enters its second full day.
Many restaurants and fast-food establishments remain closed while they wait for the advisory to be lifted, while grocery and retail stores are seeing increased demand for bottled water.
At Zehrs Owen Sound, staff have taken additional steps to ensure the store can continue operating safely. General Manager Cynthia Dawson says the store has brought in a water truck that has been connected to the building’s main water line.
Dawson says water lines have been flushed and store departments sanitized, with the truck being refilled daily until the advisory ends. She adds the store has also increased deliveries of bottled water to ensure it remains available for customers as demand rises.
While some businesses are managing to stay open, the closures are creating financial stress for workers who depend on regular shifts.
Spencer Byers, a full-time employee at Tim Hortons, says missing shifts due to the advisory is already taking a toll.
“I missed out on a shift today and I could very possibly miss another tomorrow,” he said. “It’s income I rely on. It pays my bills and my gas. It’s very impactful for me and my co-workers who are all facing potential financial loss.”
Byers says he’s concerned the advisory could last several days, which would mean lost income for many employees. “None of us can afford to lose a week’s worth of wages because of rent, because of gas, because of childcare.”
According to the City, the advisory was issued after elevated turbidity — or cloudiness — was detected in the municipal water supply. High turbidity can interfere with the disinfection process during water treatment.
All users of Owen Sound’s municipal water system are being advised to bring all water 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.
It’s not necessary to boil tap water for other household purposes, such as showering, laundry, bathing or washing dishes.
The advisory 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.
City officials provided an update Sunday evening saying turbidity levels are improving and staff are continuing to monitor water quality closely through increased testing.
Officials say the advisory, along with efforts by residents to reduce water usage, has helped stabilize the system.
If current trends continue, the City says it is hopeful that conditions could allow officials to begin considering lifting the precautionary boil water advisory by Wednesday, March 18. However, any decision will require consultation with Grey Bruce Public Health and the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks to ensure all public health and safety requirements are met.
Meanwhile, the city is distributing bottled water today (March 16th).
A limited supply of bottled water — donated by Bruce Power and Ice River Springs — will be available at the Public Works Administration Building on 20th Street East from 2:30 to 5 p.m., while supplies last. Residents are asked to limit pickup to one case per vehicle.
The City is also working with community partners, including Grey County, United Way Bruce Grey, and The Salvation Army, to ensure vulnerable residents have access to drinking water.