Officials in Asheville are working to restore clean drinking water after Hurricane Helene severely impacted the North Fork Reservoir, which supplies over 70% of the city’s water. A 36-inch bypass water mainline has been reconnected to help with restoration efforts. The reservoir is currently brown with sediment, making direct treatment necessary to clear the water.
Water distribution sites with bottled water have been set up in the region, as thousands remain without power. Clear water could take weeks or months without direct treatment using aluminum sulfate to settle out particles. Gov. Roy Cooper emphasized the need to rebuild and improve water infrastructure to withstand future disasters.
The North Fork Reservoir typically stores untreated water pumped from the Mills River, where suspended material settles out. The treated water undergoes additional filtration, disinfection, and chemical balancing before being distributed. The Asheville Water Resources Department is working to address leaks and broken lines in the city, with residents with private wells being urged to have their water tested by the EPA.
Up to 20,000 private wells in the region may have been affected by Helene, making water safety a top priority. State and federal officials are working to provide clean, quality drinking water to residents and address the long-term impacts of the hurricane on the region’s water systems.
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