Asheville has announced that the water is now safe to drink

North Carolina’s Weather Authority

11-18-2024

BREAKING: The City of Asheville has announced that the water is now safe to drink without boiling for the first time in over seven weeks since Hurricane Helene destroyed the water system. What an incredible milestone!!

Here’s what the city of Asheville says.

“The City of Asheville has lifted the Boil Water Notice for all water customers as of 11 a.m. today, November 18.

Water Resources lab staff finished sampling the distribution system early Sunday afternoon, and results have confirmed that the water supply is free from contaminants.

Customers may resume normal usage of the water system. It is no longer necessary to use bottled water for consumption, although water distribution and services provided at Community Care Stations at listed locations will continue until further notice.

While an increase in demand is expected, Water Resources is asking customers to temporarily avoid large-volume activities like filling bathtubs, watering landscaping, filling swimming pools and taking abnormally long showers. Otherwise, normal usage for consumption (drinking and cooking), hygiene (bathing and handwashing) and dishwashing may resume.

The City of Asheville is confident there is no detectable level of lead in its source water. Plumbing in structures built before 1988 have increased potential to be a source of lead exposure if water sits undisturbed in plumbing. For this reason, customers in structures built before 1988 are advised to flush their system for 30 seconds to two minutes before consumption on a daily basis.

The lifting of the Boil Water Notice is an incredible milestone in storm recovery. It took an extraordinary effort to get to this day and the City of Asheville thanks the community for being patient during this disruption in service. Whether it was temporarily turning off the water supply to water heaters, flushing pipes, or enduring multiple Boil Water Notice AVL Alerts, community participation made a difference in getting the water system back online. The Water Resources team was supported by a number of City departments, partners from other water utilities, FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers, without whom this would not have been possible.”