Asheville Residents Report Clearer Tap Water as City Aims for Potable Supply by December

Asheville Residents See Improvement in Water Quality as City Works Toward Potable Supply

Asheville, N.C. has been buzzing with news lately as the city continues its efforts to provide its residents with drinkable water from their taps. Currently, the city is pumping out a remarkable 20 million gallons of water per day from the North Fork Reservoir, but there’s still a bit of work to do. The ultimate goal? To have the water flowing from taps be safe for drinking by mid-December.

Those keeping tabs on the ongoing water saga will know this isn’t just another city improvement project. The struggle has centered around a pesky issue called turbidity, which relates to how clear the water is. Essentially, it’s all about the amount of sediment or dirt that needs to be filtered out before the water can be declared potable.

Noticing Changes

Residents across the Asheville area are reporting something promising: the water coming from their taps has been noticeably clearer recently. Say goodbye to that unsettling yellowish or brownish tint that many experienced just a few weeks back! This marked improvement is attributed to the fact that the water level at the North Fork Reservoir is significantly lower than it was just a month ago.

Our team over at the water treatment plant at North Fork—located about eight miles from Swannanoa—took the opportunity to see firsthand how things are progressing. The turbidity level at the reservoir, which had experienced alarming spikes, is now at 15.3 NTU, down from 90 NTU back when Hurricane Helene struck over six weeks ago. Just last week, the turbidity level was 17 NTU, so you can see the steady improvement!

Working Towards Potable Water

So, what’s happening with the water that flows into homes? Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the Water Resources staff, the water entering Asheville homes has a turbidity level of just 0.004 NTU. This figure fits comfortably below the EPA requirement of 0.3 NTU, which is excellent news! However, there still are some hurdles to clear. The spool line that allows untreated reservoir water to flow into the water pipes remains open, contributing to some remaining issues regarding overall water quality.

The pressure is on, and the filtering system at the plant needs to be washed every 20 hours because of the ongoing high turbidity in the North Fork Reservoir. To give some perspective, prior to the hurricane, those filters only needed washing every 70 hours when the turbidity level was much lower. Now, that’s some hard work!

Innovations and Nature’s Helpers

The city has also implemented clever solutions like installing curtains made of composite material in a large section of the reservoir. These curtains dive down about 10 feet and help keep the water treated by promoting sediment to settle at the bottom before it even reaches the treatment plant. Nature plays a role, too; the forest surrounding the North Fork Reservoir has historically acted as a natural filtering system, thanks to the extensive root systems of the lush greenery.

Ongoing Efforts and Testing

The North Fork Reservoir covers around 350 acres and reaches a maximum depth of 110 feet. Even though the turbidity rate is currently sitting at 15 NTU, the working systems are managing well, and all lines from a 36-inch bypass to redundant water pipelines are operational. It’s reassuring to hear that the system is capable of handling the sediment, even while needing those filters cleaned more often.

As Asheville gears up for one of its most anticipated winter seasons, the city is dedicated to overcoming the challenges and ensuring that drinkable water flows from residents’ taps soon. With improvements being reported and ongoing diligence from the Water Resources team, there’s a sense of optimism in the air. So, keep the taps running, Asheville—we’re excited to sip that clear water together soon!