Boil Water Advisory Lifted in Asheville Following Tropical Storm Helene

Residents of Asheville, North Carolina, can breathe a sigh of relief as the boil water advisory, which was in effect for several weeks following Tropical Storm Helene, has been officially lifted. This announcement was made on the morning of November 18, 2024, by the Water Resources Department at a Buncombe County briefing.

Clay Chandler, a spokesperson for the Water Resources Department, provided the update, stating, «Our crews conducted sampling of the water at the test sites over the weekend, and all of the testing was completed Sunday. The tests were all clear of E. coli and coliform, so therefore, we are lifting the boil water advisory as of today.»

This comes after considerable efforts by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and city workers. Chandler highlighted the replacement of raw water in the pipes with treated water, owing to the filtration systems in place. «After it goes through our filtration and treatment systems, it’s like 0.1. That’s what it is under normal circumstances before Helene,» said Chandler, referring to the water’s turbidity level.

The advisories came as a response to high sediment levels in the North Fork Reservoir due to the impact of Tropical Storm Helene. This reservoir supplies about 80% of the water system’s capacity. Over the past week, the city has been engaged in flushing out untreated water from the system.

Nonetheless, Chandler advised residents to continue conserving water, especially avoiding large scale activities like filling pools and watering gardens extensively during this recovery phase. «We thank you for hanging in there with us,» Chandler expressed, acknowledging the residents’ patience throughout the ordeal.