As of October 14, the North Fork water treatment plant in Black Mountain continues to feed highly chlorinated water into the City of Asheville’s water distribution system.
Water service has begun to return to areas west of Swannanoa, including Haw Creek and parts of Fairview. Preparations have been completed to begin sending water to the Fairview area and to the higher elevation areas of South Asheville that do not have water. Preparations are also in place to begin sending water to downtown and north Asheville.
It is extremely important to note: The water is NOT SAFE to drink straight out of the tap. If you get your water from Mills River, you are under a Boil Water Advisory. If you get your water from North Fork, you are under a Boil Water Notice. In each case, water intended for consumption (drinking, cooking and brushing teeth) should be boiled vigorously for at least one minute beforehand.
As water begins to return, Water Resources staff are turning on pump stations to begin to help move water into higher elevation areas. Service restoration will continue slowly and incrementally, moving in a generally westward direction.
As the system pressurizes, new water line breaks that were previously unknown will be found. Water Resources crews and our utility partners will be on standby to make these repairs as they are discovered. To report line breaks, call Water Resources Customer Service at 828-251-1122.
What to do before water service returns:
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Flip off the breaker to your water heater.
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Turn off water to your water heater.
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Turn off hot water under your sinks.
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Remove aerator (it typically unscrews) on faucets.
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Turn off the ice maker.
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Turn off water to your whole house filter, if you have one.
What to do when your water service returns:
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Flush your home plumbing by running the bathtub’s cold water faucet.
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Your water heater may be turned back on once your home’s plumbing has been flushed.
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It’s safe to flush your toilet after completing steps 1 and 2.
Presentation slides, images and videos from Assistant City Manager’s presentations at briefings are available at the following folder location: City of Asheville Water Department Presentations for County Briefings
The “October 14 Water Resources Updates” briefing presentation is viewable on YouTube.
Visit the City of Asheville website for the latest information and updates.
Written by the City of Asheville.