Water Safety
As of 11/18/24 The boil advisory for those on Asheville water has been lifted.
City of Asheville Water Resources has lifted the Boil Water Notice. Customers may resume normal usage of the water system. Please review this notice about how to return to service.
This does not apply to customers with plumbing installed before 1988. Like it was before Helene, flushing your cold water tap for 30 seconds to two minutes is still advised before gathering water for consumption. That process should be followed daily. To learn more about lead awareness, visit https://www.ashevillenc.gov/projects/lead-awareness/. You can also request a lead test on this site.
Burnsville System Pressure Advisory
ASHEVILLE WATER BILLING UPDATE
How to return to service after a boil advisory
What to do if you are under a BOIL ADVISORY
Burnsville System Pressure Advisory
The water consumers from Cane River bridge west in the Town of Burnsville, in Yancey County are experiencing periods of low pressure and outages in the distribution system due to a water line break at the Cane River bridge. Periods of low or no pressure in the distribution system increases the potential for back siphonage and introduction of bacteria into the water system.
Therefore, the Division of Water Resources advises that when water is restored consumers boil all water used for human consumption (including drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation) or use bottled water.
Vigorous boiling for one (1) minute should kill any disease-causing organisms that may be present in the water.
This office is strongly urging the water consumers to conserve water whenever possible. This advisory remains in effect until further written notification is issued. 11/11 2:30pm Yancey Times
Reduction of Lead Exposure
Structures built before 1988 have the potential for lead in internal plumbing. Depending on pipe materials, lead may be found in water that has sat undisturbed in household plumbing for 4-6 hours and could pose serious health risks if ingested. Until the ongoing boil water notice is lifted, residents are advised to drink bottled water.
If you must use the tap water for consumption, the City of Asheville recommends that city water customers run water through faucets for two minutes or until water temperature changes, then boil water for one minute.
Drinking bottled water is the safest way to avoid lead exposure. This is critical for those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, and for kids under 6 years old. Bottled water is being distributed throughout the City and County for free (distribution sites below).
Out of an abundance of caution, children under 6, pregnant people, and breastfeeding people who have consumed tap water and have concerns, should consult their health care providers. If they do not have a doctor, they can call the Buncombe County Blood Lead Information Line at 828-250-5205. Buncombe County Public Health has set up a Blood Lead Information Line for healthcare providers and the public to call with any questions or concerns. Callers can leave a message, and a public health nurse will call back as soon as possible.
More information on lead awareness and testing can be found by visiting ashevillenc.gov/leadawareness.
PREVENTING FROZEN PIPES
Below freezing temperatures are expected over the weekend. Here are some tips to prevent frozen water pipes in your home. Find more information on this page: https://www.ashevillenc.gov/department/water/additional-information/
• Disconnect and drain all garden hoses and install covers on outside faucets.
• Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.
• Identify the location of the main water valve and the valve on your water heater. (Learning the location of these valves may come in handy during an emergency.)
• Wrap pipes nearest exterior walls and in crawl spaces with pipe insulation or heating tape. This will prevent freezing, especially for interior pipes that run along outside walls.
• Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.
• Close all windows near water pipes; cover or close open-air vents. Freezing temperatures combined with wind drafts can cause pipes to freeze more frequently.
• During really cold weather, open the cold water tap and let the water run at a trickle to keep the water in the pipes moving.
Public Health Guidelines
Gastroenteritis Post-Hurricane Helene: After major flooding events, such as Hurricane Helene, the risk of gastroenteritis—a stomach and intestinal illness—increases due to contaminated water, limited hygiene, and food safety challenges.
Dr. Jennifer Mullendore, medical director with Buncombe County, recommends washing hands with soap or using hand sanitizer and consuming safe drinking water including bottled water or water that has been boiled. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, headache, muscle aches. Click here for more information.
Community Concern Notice:
As water pressure is restored to parts of Western North Carolina, please be advised that tap water may not be safe for any use. If the water shows any unusual, chemical, or oily smell, taste, or texture, consider disposing of it and continue using bottled water. Check your local authorities for the status of your tap water and consider continuing to filter and boil all tap water intended for drinking, cooking, and washing until further notice. (10/30/24)
CLICK HERE for a crowdsourced document on safety practices on handling flood water and mud
ASHEVILLE WATER BILLING UPDATE
The Water Resources Department paused all billing activities at the onset of Hurricane Helene until the full system achieved a return to potable water.
The boil water notice was lifted system wide on 11/18/2024.
As we return to regular service operations, billing will be resumed. The difficult task of meter reading began the same week potable water was restored.
Key Takeaways as meter reading resumes and new statements are produced:
The COMBINED UTILITY STATEMENT includes services for water, sewer, stormwater, and sanitation services (as applicable to each customer). Utility flat fee charges are primarily billed bimonthly/six times per fiscal year.
The “Water Consumption Charge” for water usage on all bills has been changed to $0.00. This covers all water usage from your last bill, before the storm, through your meter reading for the current bill. It encompasses the full period of nonpotable water from the end of September through mid November.
Sewer Treatment will be charged at the regular rate as the Metropolitan Sewerage District has remained operational and is treating wastewater on a normal schedule.
Due to the lapse in billing during storm recovery, customers have missed one full bimonthly billing cycle. Because of this, the flat fees for other services will be doubled on your most recent bill. Again these fees are designed for assessment six times per year for the associated services. This would include the water base fee, sewer maintenance, stormwater, and sanitation roll carts.
It does not include a water consumption charge for the billing period impacted by Hurricane Helene from the end of September through mid November.
The City of Asheville will not assess any delinquent fees for utility statements until after 3/1/2025.
Customers are encouraged to contact Water Customer Services at 251-1122 if they have billing questions or if additional time is needed to pay the bill. Payment plans will be made available to customers who request them.
Regular rates will resume beginning with the next billing cycle.
BOIL ADVISORY
As of 11/18/24 The boil advisory for those on Asheville water has been lifted.
City of Asheville Water Resources has lifted the Boil Water Notice. Customers may resume normal usage of the water system. Please review this notice about how to return to service.
This does not apply to customers with plumbing installed before 1988. Like it was before Helene, flushing your cold water tap for 30 seconds to two minutes is still advised before gathering water for consumption. That process should be followed daily. To learn more about lead awareness, visit https://www.ashevillenc.gov/projects/lead-awareness/. You can also request a lead test on this site.
How to return to service after a boil advisory
How To Resume Normal Operations after a Boil Water Advisory/Notice is Lifted
After either the municipality or regulatory authority has provided notice that the water supply is safe to use, the operator must verify the following has been completed:
- Flush pipes/faucets: follow the directions of your water utility (in the newspaper, radio, or television) or, as general guidance, run cold water faucets for at least 5 minutes.
- Equipment with water line connections such as post-mix beverage machines, spray misters, coffee or tea urns, ice machines, glass washers, dishwashers, and other equipment with water connections must be flushed, cleaned, and sanitized in accordance with manufacturer's instructions. Attention should be given to waterline strainers, faucet aerators and faucet screens.
- Run water softeners through a regeneration cycle.
- Drain reservoirs in tall buildings.
- Flush hot water tank.
- Flush drinking fountains: run continuously for 5 minutes.
- Water Filter cartridges should be replaced and canisters sanitized.
Ice Machine Sanitation:
- Flush the water line to the machine inlet.
- Close the valve on the water line behind the machine and disconnect the waterline from the machine inlet.
- Open the valve, run 5 gallons of water through the valve and dispose of the water.
- Close the valve and reconnect the line.
- Discard the first three batches of ice.
Additional Resources:
Conference for Food Protection-Emergency Action Plan for Retail Food Establishments (pages 28-29)
https://www.foodprotect.org/media/guide/Emergency%20Action%20Plan%20for%20Retail%20food%20Est.pdf
NC-Environmental Emergency Preparedness and Recovery Guidance Manual
https://ehs.dph.ncdhhs.gov/faf/food/fd/docs/EH-PreparednessManual-Final.pdf
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Buncombe County Environmental Health Services at (828) 250-5016 or ehrequest@buncombecounty.org.
What to do if you are under a BOIL ADVISORY
- Boiling vigorously for 1 full minute is highly recommended for drinking and washing dishes or you risk serious disease!!
- You can shower during a boil advisory but please be careful to not swallow any water and take care not to get water in your eyes, mouth, or nose.
- If you cannot boil water, 8 drops of regular bleach to one gallon of water. Only use regular, unscented chlorine bleach products that are suitable for disinfection and sanitization as indicated on the label. The label may say that the active ingredient contains 6 or 8.25% of sodium hypochlorite. Do not use scented, color safe, or bleaches with added cleaners. Stir and let stand for 30 minutes before drinking.
WELL WATER SAFETY
Well Water (if well did NOT flood): BOIL ADVISORY! Have your well tested for safe consumption.
Well Water (if the well did flood): DO NOT CONSUME! A flooded well is a well where water was over the top of the well at any point in the storm. Flooded or damaged wells need to be disinfected. Here’s how to disinfect wells. After disinfection, water will need to be sampled. Beginning 10/10/24, you can get well water testing kits at 30 Valley Street in Asheville daily from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Directions For Collecting Water Sample
Follow well shock chlorination instructions provided. Pay close attention to step #6 of the process. Do NOT run the chlorinated water through your drains into the septic tank.
1. When collecting a distribution tap sample, the water in the service line should be completely flushed.
- Do not sample from taps surrounded by excessive foliage (leaves, flowers, etc) or taps that are dirty, corroded or leaking.
- Never collect a sample from a hose or any other attachment fastened to a faucet.
- The sample bottle should never come in contact with the faucet.
- Do not lay the sample container lid down, splatter water on the lid or container, and never touch the inside of the container or lid.
- Make sure to disinfect your well using the provided instructions BEFORE collecting the sample.
2. The water sample to be tested for bacteria must be collected in the sterilized bottle you received when you applied. The bottle contains a dechlorinating agent, sodium thiosulfate. If the bottle is damaged or the lid is loose, do not use the bottle. Contact this office for replacement.
3. It is best to take your sample from a frequently used distribution tap such as the kitchen faucet.
4. Before taking sample, let the water run from the tap 5 minutes. Before taking sample, ensure cleaning of faucet head with alcohol swabs.
5. When taking the sample, let nothing but the water itself come in contact with the mouth of the bottle or the inside of the cap. Fill the bottle at least to the 100 ml line, but do not fill bottle completely. Leave ½ inch of air space at the top of the bottle.
6. Bring all samples back to Environmental Health at 30 Valley St. the same day of collection. Samples must be analyzed within 30 hours of the collection. Do not mail samples.
7. Do not place a label or sticker on the side of the bottle.
Samples must be returned to 30 Valley Street weekdays from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Results will be provided in 48 hours by phone or email.
Additional Well Water Resource and Info - https://nc-helene-data-nu.hub.arcgis.com/pages/well-water-resources/
A permit for drilling a well is needed and can be found online at buncombecounty.org/eh.
After The Flood: How to inspect, purge, and disinfect your well.
ARCHIVE–STAFF USE ONLY
BLACK MOUNTAIN–Town of Black Mountain water is now under a boil water notice, meaning after vigorously boiling for 1 minute, this water can be used for drinking, cooking, and more. (changed 10/18)
ASHEVILLE WATER SYSTEM NOTICE
- Official City of Asheville Frequently Asked Questions about water safety and handling: click here for link
- Official Up-to-date Asheville Water Testing Results: click here for link
Water Service Restoration
Some customers who are very close to the North Fork Water Treatment facility in Lake Eden and Swannanoa have seen water service return. Water Resources is in the process of expanding service to Haw Creek and parts of Fairview. It is of utmost importance to note: This water IS NOT SAFE for drinking from the tap. Water must be vigorously boiled for at least one minute before consumption. The water is safe for laundry, showering (do not swallow water while showering), handwashing, washing dishes and flushing toilets. Service will return slowly and incrementally, moving in a generally westward direction from North Fork toward Asheville.
What to do before water service returns:
- Flip off the breaker to your water heater.
- Turn off water to your water heater.
- Turn off hot water under your sinks.
- Remove aerator (it typically unscrews) on faucets.
- Turn off the ice maker.
- Turn off water to your whole house filter, if you have one.
What to do when your water service returns
- Run cold water through a non-aerated faucet, such as a bathtub or a water hose, for about 15 minutes or until the water turns clear.
- Turn on your water heater and water heater breaker, and reattach your faucet aerator.
- It’s safe to flush your toilet after completing steps 1 and 2.
- 𝗕𝗼𝗶𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗼𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲 before using it for cooking, brushing teeth, or drinking. It’s safe for showers, but avoid getting water in your mouth. Sponge baths are recommended for babies and small children. Do not use tap water to make ice until it is safe to consume.
𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁? Newly available water will contain more sediment than usual. These steps will allow sediment to flow freely out of the water system and prevent it from collecting where it shouldn’t, such as in your aerator and in appliances. Turning off your ice maker ensures that you will not ingest water that is not yet safe to consume.
- All water in the City of Asheville is under a boil advisory. Boil all water vigorously for at least one minute before using it for any consumption, such as cooking, brushing teeth, and drinking.
- The water is safe for showers, officials say, but residents should avoid getting water in the mouth. Parents and guardians should consider sponge baths for babies and small children.
- If you remain without water, turn off the water heater to prevent fire risk.
- If you see a leak in your area, please report it to customer service: 828-251-1122.
The City of Asheville is not assessing late fees for water bills, sending delinquent notices, creating new bills, or doing any cuts-offs for non-payment at this time. We are still accepting payments online, IVR, and by mail for anyone that is trying to pay an existing bill. Please contact customer service at 828-251-1122 if you have billing concerns.
ASHEVILLE CITY WATER: BOIL ADVISORY!
BLACK MOUNTAIN WATER: BOIL ADVISORY!
Last updated: December 12, 2024, 6:37 am