Owen Sound will apply to the province to be declared a Disaster Zone because of the frozen pipes problem this winter.
If the province agrees, the city would be eligible for funding through the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program. The cost to the city is $1 million and counting.
Mayor Ian Boddy says the city needs some help.
"We have problems we're not a financially strong community, we're hurting and we've got money going down the drain, pardon the pun, that we can't afford in this town."
At the height of the problem, 319 services in Owen Sound had frozen water pipes. They all have their water back now, but some people in the city are still being advised to keep a tap running until further notice.