More than half of the people served by Asheville’s Water Resources Department still do not have access to water as of Oct. 13, more than two weeks after devastating flooding in the region.
The number of people without water in the city’s water department footprint is roughly 90,000 to 100,000, spokesman Clay Chandler said Sunday during a news conference in Buncombe County. The water system serves approximately 160,000 people, including customers in Asheville, Buncombe and Henderson counties.
Officials have said they don’t expect water to fully return to customers for at least weeks.
Nearly 80% of customers receive water from the North Fork Reservoir, which was hit hard by sediment due to heavy precipitation caused by Tropical Storm Helene. The water department began treating the reservoir directly to clear the cloudy water.
In addition, pipes at the North Fork Water Treatment facility – the main plant in the system – were completely destroyed. Helene also broke backup water pipes that were 25 feet underground.
When asked what was the biggest challenge officials faced in getting water back to customers, Chandler said, “Basically everything.”
U.S. EPA Administrator Michael Regan and Gov. Roy Cooper visited the reservoir on Oct. 10, the same day water department crews connected a 36-inch bypass line damaged by the storm. On Saturday, Buncombe County officials announced that water was flowing through the pipe and reaching some customers in Swannanoa, although the water was heavily chlorinated and contained sediment.
What to do before water supply returns
Asheville officials have issued instructions on what residents need to do before water service returns:
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Turn off the circuit breaker to the water heater.
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Turn off the water to the boiler.
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Turn off the hot water to the sinks.
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Unscrew the tap aerators.
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Turn off the ice maker in your refrigerator.
The boil water warning remains in effect for the Asheville area
With water reaching some customers who rely on the North Fork Reservoir, the city reminded customers Friday that the water is not safe to drink from the tap and that they should boil it for at least a minute before consuming. A boil water notice for North Fork water means there are confirmed contaminants in the water.
The water is safe for cleaning tasks such as doing laundry, showering (do not put it in your mouth), washing dishes and flushing toilets.
Customers receiving water from the Mills River treatment plant are under a boil water advisory. While there are no confirmed contaminants, officials have said there is reason to believe they exist. Whether it is a notification or advice to boil water, the action is the same: boil the water vigorously for at least a minute before consuming it.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Up to 100,000 people without running water in Asheville area after Helene
