Following Tropical Storm Helene, Buncombe County water deemed safe for consumption, officials confirm.
Buncombe County residents can now safely drink from their taps again, as the Water Resources Department officially lifted the boil water advisory on November 18, 2024. The advisory, which had been in place for several weeks following the impacts of Tropical Storm Helene, was lifted after water quality tests confirmed the absence of harmful contaminants.
Clay Chandler, spokesperson for the Water Resources Department, reported the news during a briefing on the same day. "Our crews conducted sampling over the weekend at various test sites, and the results were clear," Chandler said. "All tests returned negative for E. coli and coliform bacteria, which means the water is now safe for consumption."
The boil water notice had been issued in the wake of the storm, which caused a disruption to the county's water supply, including elevated turbidity levels in local water sources. In support of the recovery efforts, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers installed a filtration system, replacing the contaminated raw water in the pipes with treated water.
Chandler reported that the turbidity level at North Fork Reservoir, as of November 18, was recorded at just fewer than 14, well improved. "The water now passing through the system has been fully treated and is at a turbidity level of 0.1, which is the standard for clean water before the storm," Chandler said.
Earlier, residents had been told to boil their water before consumption, but now that the advisory has been lifted, the Water Resources Department has confirmed that all systems are now backing to normal. In the update, a push alert was sent out to local residents.
The lifting of the advisory marks a significant recovery milestone after the challenges posed by Tropical Storm Helene.
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