An update on repairs to the water system in Asheville - AVLtoday

Water Resources Department Communications Specialist Clay Chandler said that fixing all the city’s water line breaks is like “playing a game of whack-a-mole.”

Photo via City of Asheville

At the Monday, Oct. 14 news briefing, Assistant City Manager Ben Woody outlined the progress made in restoring running water to the thousands of locals and businesses left without. With the North Fork bypass line now reconnected and some water beginning to flow through Asheville’s pipes, Woody also shared important information on safety.

The City of Asheville has not provided an exact timeline for complete restoration, still stressing that “water restoration will occur slowly and incrementally” and that “full restoration of the system could potentially be weeks away.”

Here’s what we do know.

Asheville is served by three water treatment plants — North Fork in Black Mountain, Mills River near the airport, and William DeBruhl in Swannanoa — which together operate thousands of miles of pipes.

The Mills River plant, which primarily serves South Asheville, is fully operational. The city is asking those with water to conserve, and the boil water advisory remains in effect. The William DeBruhl plant (usually referred to as Bee Tree) had waterlines demolished in the storm and is currently inaccessible until roads are repaired. According to the county, a lot of debris has been removed and road repair is beginning — but assessment is still underway as of Monday, Oct. 14.

North Fork, the principal water treatment plant for the area, is responsible for 80% of our water. North Fork’s 36-in bypass waterline experienced significant damage after the storm washed away almost 25 feet of ground. This bypass line was a redundant installation meant to mitigate any damage to the 36-in and 24-in main and transmission lines and was originally built to withstand a typical hurricane event — but Helene exceeded the typical. With these other lines gone, repair of the bypass line became a top priority.

Helene shifted the waterway entirely and it now flows over the lines, so crews had to construct dams as they went to make the repairs. The crew also had to run the repaired line further than the original because the original line was clogged by boulders.

The rebuild, which will be installed deeper and will be armored, was reconnected last week. At a recent news briefing, Woody shared some context for the speed of those repairs: When the line was originally installed, it was a three-year project. If they were operating under normal conditions to do these repairs, it would be a two-year project.

To address the turbidity (amount of sediment) of the water in the North Fork reservoir, the local team and the EPA created a pilot plant (which is a small version of the plant, kind of like a lab) to test treatment options and developed an in-reservoir treatment plant. These measures are meant to address the turbidity of the water and allow for coagulation, which removes the charge from the particles in the water and allows them to settle.

T&K Utilities connected the line in the early morning hours of Oct. 10.

Photo via Buncombe County

Last Thursday night, water resources staff began pressurizing and filling the North Fork Bypass line. They are currently feeding ~12 million gallons per day into the line to support flushing the water system and expanding the restoration of water service.

The North Fork Water Treatment Plant can’t be used right now, so crews are pressurizing the distribution system directly from reservoir water instead of going through the treatment plant. As such, the water is highly chlorinated to ensure it is safe to use.

Restoration began in Swannanoa — which Woody called “ground zero” of the water system destruction — and will move incrementally west from North Fork to Asheville. On Sunday, Oct. 13, crews began supplying water to areas west of Swannanoa and were able to reach South Tunnel Road and the Haw Creek junction, a major distribution system. Although no timeline was provided, Woody said preparations have been made to send water to the Fairview area and higher elevation parts of South Asheville.

The reservoir’s turbidity is still a concern, but in-reservoir treatment will begin later this week. A private contractor will install curtains in the reservoir to create sections for coagulation, which will continue in stages to get sediment to settle. Woody did share some good news on water clarity: Streams are now feeding clean, clear water to the reservoir.

Continuing the pressurizing and filling process with this sediment-heavy water allows crews to repair smaller leaks, fill tanks, remove airlocks, and flush the system without waiting for the reservoir treatment to be completed — thus speeding up restoration. It also means that folks are beginning to get water back.

The plan for incremental water restoration moves west from Swannanoa.

Map via City of Asheville

As progress is made, residents will begin to see restoration of their water — but there are some steps you need to take before water returns and once you see it flowing.

Because this water will contain a lot of sediment, you want to ensure it doesn’t damage your appliances and home system.

When you begin receiving water, it’s crucial to flush your pipes. A lot of dirt and sediment have entered the system through damage or just while they were sitting unused, so you need to get all that out to help clear your water. To flush your private lines, simply run water in a bathtub faucet or outdoor faucet (essentially, any faucet that doesn’t run the water through a filter, screen, or aerator) for about 15 minutes. After flushing, you can turn your water heater and other appliances back on and flush your toilet.

Once the system has been flushed, the water will start looking clearer — but it still isn’t safe for consumption. It is safe for laundry, handwashing, washing dishes, and showering, but it is still under a boil water advisory.

Woody also emphasized that water crews can use residents’ help. To restore water to the whole city, all pipe leaks have to be fixed, and you shouldn’t assume that crews know where the breaks are. If you see a leak, call the Water Resources Department customer service at 828-251-1122.

Note: Water in the Town of Black Mountain continues to be for flushing only. Even if boiled, this water is not for human or pet consumption.

Drinking water as well as nonpotable water can be found at these city and county distribution sites:

Find more local resources.