Water Services

The Operational Plan defines and documents the Quality Management System for the Town of Parry Sound Water System Business Unit. It sets out the policies and procedures with respect to quality management in accordance with the requirements of the Province of Ontario's Drinking Water Quality Management Standard.

Quality Management System Policy

The Water System Business Unit as the Operating Authority is committed to:

• Provide Safe Drinking Water to the consumers
• Comply with all applicable legislation and regulation
• Maintain and continually improve on the Quality Management System (QMS)

Contractors may contact the Town of Parry Sound for the purchase of bulk water. Please submit the Bulk Water Purchase Application and return to publicworks@parrysound.ca or call the Town Office at 705-746-2101. 

Water restrictions are in place during the months of May, June, July, August and September for lawn and garden watering.

If your address is an odd number, you can water on odd numbered days only between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

If your address is an even number, you can water on even numbered days only between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

You can request a permit to water outside the restricted hours if:

• You have laid new sod
• You have planted new seed
• You have grubs and are treating your lawn with nematodes
• You have a property open to the public and cannot water during the permitted hours

If you require a permit, please contact the Public Works Department.

Arrange to have your water turned on or off by request to the Town Office. Call the Town to request a turn on or off at least five business days in advance.

What if there is an emergency?

In the case of an emergency contact the Public Works Department (705-746-2101) as soon as possible. If it is after hours please call 705-773-8207.

Is there a cost to turning on and off my water?

There is a fee if the service is turned on or off between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. If the service is turned on or off at any other time, there may be additional charges. For information on any applicable fees, please contact the Town Office at 705-746-2101.

Only when Town staff turns off the water does the billing for usage stop. All accounts will pay the capital charges while connected to the water and wastewater system, even if the water is shut-off.

Please visit the water and sewer billing webpage for more information. 

Please visit the water meters webpage for more information. 

Please be advised that Council directed staff to turn the public water tap off on October 31, 2017.  A new location for the tap and changing the service to a user pay system was discussed during 2018 budget deliberations. There are currently no plans to install a new water user pay system.

Water Fluoridation - What's it all about?

Parry Sound has been adding fluoride to the Town's drinking water since the 1960's. At the June 2, 2015 Council meeting, Council defeated a staff recommendation to cease adding fluoride to Parry Sound's drinking water. The primary reason for the staff recommendation was staff safety in handling the fluoride. Staff were then asked to provide information to upgrade the fluoridation process in the water treatment plant to ensure the safety of the plant, staff and the public. At the September 1, 2015 Council meeting Council approved the upgrades to the fluoride system for a total of $250,000.00. Subsequent Council meetings saw Council and the public receiving information from the Medical Officer of Health from the North Bay-Parry Sound Health Unit, about the benefits of water fluoridation and others providing information about what they believe are fluoride's detrimental effects.   

On November 3, 2015 a third staff report was provided to Council regarding the regulations for a potential referendum for the removal of fluoride from the Town's drinking water. For access to all staff reports see below. Information presented at Council meetings is also available  in the Council Calendar with a Presentation section beside the Council Meeting minutes or contact the North Bay Parry Sound Health Unit at 705-474-1400 X2328 or on-line at www.myhealthunit.ca and search water fluoridation.

Staff Reports:  Please be advised that while the staff reports are AODA compliant, not all the attachments to the reports are. Please contact the Town Clerk, for an alternate format if required. 

June 2, 2015, September 1, 2015, November 3, 2015, February 16, 2016, March 15, 2016

Council Minutes/Presentations:

June 2, 2015, September 1, 2015, November 3, 2015, January 26, 2016, February 16, 2016, March 15, 2016

Update on Fluoridation Issue:  At a Special Budget Meeting of Council, held January 26, 2016, the resolution approving the water treatment plant upgrades was brought back to Council. Council decided the following: 

Resolution 2016-007 rescinded Resolution 2015-154 approving upgrades to the water treatment plant. Staff were asked to provide notice to the Ministry of Health that the Town will cease adding fluoride in the near future; to prepare a by-law removing fluoride from the drinking water system; to post the draft by-law for 21 days for public review and to notify the Council for the municipality of McDougall of Parry Sound's intentions as McDougall purchases water from the Town of Parry Sound. See Minutes of January 26, 2016 for your information. 

Council also passed resolution 2016-008 instructing staff to add the following question to the municipal election ballot in 2018: Are you in favour of the fluoridation of the public water supply of this municipality?  As per the Fluoridation Act, this is the only question allowed on a municipal ballot.

The draft by-law to remove fluoride from the Town's drinking water was available to the public for comment. Deadline for comments was March 14, 2016, 4:30 p.m. The by-law came before Council for deliberation at the March 15, 2016 Council Meeting and By-law 2016-6619 was passed. As of March 18, 2016, after consultation with the the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Health, the fluoride delivery system at the Tony Agnello Water Treatment Plant was disengaged.  

The water distribution system is flushed each spring and fall as part of our maintenance schedule. You may notice low or no water pressure. If your water appears cloudy, continue running your water until it runs clear. If you have any questions about this program, please contact the Public Works Department.

December 21, 2021 - The Town of Parry Sound has an agreement with Service Line Warranties of Canada (SLWC), a provider of homeowner emergency repair programs, to provide optional and voluntary service plans to residents in Parry Sound.

Residential property owners will soon receive mailings from SLWC about water service line and sewer/septic line coverage available to Parry Sound homeowners. The first mailing will be mailed on December 29^th, 2021 so residents should see the information in their mailboxes the week of January 3, 2021.

Please see the press release for more information from SLWC.

If you have any questions, please call the SLWC toll free number at 1-866-922-9004 or visit their website for more information: www.slwofc.ca

Yellow or brown water may be caused by iron in the pipes. The Town supplies cold water to properties. We recommend running your COLD water for at least 5-10 minutes to flush the system until the colour clears. If no change occurs, please call us at 705-746-2101.

If your hot water is brown or rusty, it may be an issue with your hot water tank and you should contact a plumber. 

Cloudiness or bubbles is typically air. This can be caused by a variety of factors including temperature change and you'll find that the bubbles should settle and go away. If they don't give us a call at 705-746-2101. 

Please contact us to discuss connecting to municipal water services. There is a permit process and applicable fees. 

Chlorine is a disinfectant used in the treatment processes by the Town of Parry Sound to ensure your water is protected from harmful bacteria and other microorganisms as it travels through the watermains. 

Water Operations strictly follow the regulations established by the Ministry of the Environment for water sampling in order to guarantee safe water of good quality for our consumers.

All water meters are the property of the Town of Parry Sound. Users are responsible for all costs associated with repairs due to neglect (i.e. freezing, vandalism or misuse).

To obtain an approximate location of public utilities on your property, please obtain a locate through Ontario One Call. For more information on locates, you can visit our Utilities and Locates webpage. 

Drinking Water System Summary Report

Drinking Water System Annual Report

The Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002, Ontario Regulation 453/07 requires that the Town of Parry Sound has a financial plan established. Watson & Associates completed the Town's Water and Wastewater Rate Study and Ontario Regulation 453/07 Water Financial Plan. 

Council approved the updated Water Financial Plan on January 19, 2021. This plan only relates to the Town's water system.

Minister's Annual Report on Drinking Water 2016