Water Department Updates - NOV 8, 2024 - County Briefing

Water Department Update: Addressing Asheville's Water Quality Concerns - November 8, 2024

On November 8, 2024, the County Briefing included an update from the Water Department regarding ongoing water quality issues impacting Asheville and surrounding areas. This meeting, focused on providing factual information about the situation, centered primarily on the North Fork and Bee Tree Reservoirs. While no formal votes were taken, the discussion outlined current efforts to address these challenges and what residents can expect in the coming weeks.

The primary focus of the meeting was a report on improving conditions at the North Fork Reservoir, where turbidity (cloudiness) levels have shown encouraging signs of decrease. While fluctuations occurred throughout the week, readings have generally fallen below 17 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units), a significant improvement. A third round of treatment at the North Fork Reservoir is planned for next week, beginning either Monday or Tuesday and lasting most of the week. The system's capacity to deliver treated water into the distribution network has also increased, now capable of pushing 19 million gallons per day. A recent water line break on Patton Avenue, while quickly repaired, underscored the importance of maintaining stable system performance and low turbidity to ensure treated water can be effectively distributed. Furthermore, a contractor has been verbally awarded the contract for an interim pretreatment system by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with a site visit planned early next week and construction expected to begin shortly thereafter.

However, significant challenges remain at the Bee Tree Reservoir. A recent storm triggered a major landslide that deposited large boulders, trees, sand, silt, and clay into the reservoir. Turbidity levels there remain extremely high (around 200 NTU), and debris removal is the critical first step before any treatment can begin. The Water Department is coordinating with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, FEMA, and the United States Geological Survey to address this complex cleanup effort.

What This Means for You: The boil water notice remains in effect for all City of Asheville water customers. Residents are strongly advised to continue boiling any water intended for consumption for at least one minute, or using bottled/purified water. The Water Department is sending daily alerts via AVL (Asheville’s alert system) to remind residents of this important precaution. Officials explained that these frequent communications are necessary to comply with regulations from the state's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), potentially avoiding fines.

Looking Ahead: Several key actions are underway:

• The third round of treatment will begin at the North Fork Reservoir next week.
• Construction of an interim pretreatment system is expected to commence shortly after the contractor's site visit.
• Efforts continue to remove debris from the Bee Tree Reservoir, with ongoing coordination between multiple agencies.
• Daily AVL alerts regarding the boil water notice will continue to be sent out.

The Water Department’s message was one of cautious optimism regarding the North Fork Reservoir, tempered by recognition of the significant work still needed at Bee Tree. Residents are asked to remain patient and continue following all boil water notice guidelines as officials work diligently towards a resolution.