Asheville Faces Ongoing Water Quality Crisis Following Tropical Storm Helene

Asheville Struggles with Water Quality Post-Tropical Storm Helene

Asheville is currently facing a challenging situation with its main water source, the North Fork Reservoir, which has remained murky for over three weeks following the impact of Tropical Storm Helene. Despite the city’s efforts to restore non-potable water to about 95 percent of its users, the water quality remains a persistent issue.

Water Quality Remains a Concern

During a daily storm briefing held by Buncombe County on Monday, Clay Chandler, a spokesperson for the Asheville Water Resources Department, shared a disheartening photograph of the still murky reservoir. It was evident that the treatment undertaken by the city in the recent days had not yet achieved the desired clarity. “As you can see, the surface water has not cleared up very much at all, if any,” Chandler stated, revealing the frustrating predicament the city is facing.

As part of the treatment, the city had applied minerals meant to encourage clay particles to sink, which would supposedly result in a clearer water surface. Unfortunately, the outcome has not played out as anticipated. Instead of seeing improvements at the surface, it appears the deeper layers of the water, between 40 and 50 feet, showed some signs of improvement.

Unexpected Challenges

What complicates matters further is the uncertain nature of the murkiness. Chandler noted, “There have been a lot of things that have happened in the last three and a half weeks that have defied logic.” The city believes that windy conditions during the treatment days have played a role in stirring up sediment and keeping the water surface cloudy. It’s a puzzling scenario, especially for a reservoir that is ordinarily described as “pristine.”

Turbidity levels have become a major concern, particularly with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) setting specific standards for safe drinking water. Normally, the North Fork Reservoir has a turbidity reading of between 0.03 and 0.05 NTU, meaning it is much cleaner than required. However, readings on Monday were alarming, hovering between 25 and 27 NTU, and even reaching 30 NTU a few days prior. The current boil water notice remains in effect, which means that while the water is safe for activities like showering or doing laundry, it must be boiled before consuming.

Path to Restoration

As for restoring the situation, Chandler could not provide a specific timeline for when the water quality would return to normal. However, he expressed hope that upcoming treatments could lead to improvements. This latest treatment approach involves using a mix of aluminum sulfate and caustic soda, along with a special inflatable “curtain” system that will soon be installed in the reservoir to help mitigate turbidity.

The inflatable curtains will create a 500-foot circle around the water intake, which the city officials expect will assist in the purification process. Chandler remains optimistic that by this time next week, another round of in-lake treatment will take place, potentially leading to clearer water.

Impact on Local Communities

While much progress has been made with restoring non-potable water service, certain areas, such as Town Mountain and Webb Cove Road, are still experiencing disruptions. A landslide caused by the storm damaged vital infrastructure, leaving around 65 to 70 homes without water service. City contractors are working on temporary solutions to restore service by midweek.

Despite the challenges, Asheville remains committed to resolving the water quality issues and restoring full service to all affected areas. As the city pushes forward, residents can only hope for a swift return to clear, safe drinking water.