Water Department Updates - DEC 9, 2024 - County Briefing

Water Department Updates: A Recap of the December 9th County Briefing

On December 9, 2024, the County Briefing included an update from the Water Department on two critical issues facing our community: ongoing lead testing and the impact of recent storm damage to our watersheds. This recap summarizes those discussions, decisions, and next steps for residents.

A significant portion of the meeting focused on the Water Department’s lead testing program, which has seen a surge in demand. As of December 9th, over 6,600 residents have requested lead testing – a substantial increase. While the department is working diligently to process these requests, residents should anticipate a turnaround time of approximately four to six weeks for test results. To ensure the most vulnerable populations are prioritized, testing is currently focused on County and City Schools (due to consistent testing history) and homes already included in the department’s compliance pool. Recent test results from mid to late November revealed detectable lead levels in nine out of 159 samples when water was left standing for six hours. However, importantly, zero samples showed detectable lead levels after just 30 seconds of flushing the faucet – a key reminder for residents to flush their taps before collecting samples. The department confirmed it is currently meeting the required 90th percentile target for lead levels and is actively working to increase testing capacity by contracting with additional state-certified laboratories. To improve convenience, the Water Department is partnering with the Asheville Fire Department to establish convenient pick-up and drop-off locations for lead test kits; details on these sites will be released soon. Residents can find the latest results and updates on the City of Asheville Water Services Recovery page.

The second major topic addressed was the damage to our watersheds, specifically the North Fork watershed, caused by Hurricane Helene. Drone footage provided a stark visual of the extensive damage, including a significant landslide and widespread tree loss resulting in increased sediment entering the reservoir. This has led to elevated turbidity (cloudiness) levels, currently measuring 11.9 – a level officials anticipate may become the "new normal" for the foreseeable future. Officials emphasized that this situation underscores the importance of ongoing infrastructure projects, including the integration and activation of the Corps of Engineers’ pre-treatment system and the functionality of sedimentation basins within existing filters. They also cautioned that future weather events could potentially overwhelm current filtration and treatment processes if turbidity remains elevated, highlighting the need for proactive measures.

Key Action Items & What's Next: The Water Department has several key action items underway:

• Expanding Testing Capacity: Continuing to contract with additional laboratories to shorten turnaround times for lead testing.
• Convenience Site Announcement: Finalizing and announcing the locations of the Asheville Fire Department lead test kit pick-up/drop-off sites.
• Public Information Dissemination: Maintaining regular updates and posting lead testing results on the City of Asheville Water Services Recovery page.
• Corps of Engineers System Activation: Continuing the integration and activation of the Corps of Engineers pre-treatment system.

This meeting highlighted both challenges and ongoing efforts to ensure safe and reliable water services for our community. The increased demand for lead testing reflects a growing concern among residents, and the department is working to address this while emphasizing the importance of flushing taps. The damage to our watersheds serves as a reminder of the vulnerability of our water supply and the need for continued investment in infrastructure to mitigate future risks.