US EditionAsheville Staple Reopens One Year After Hurricane Helene
Repairs restored water service to 80% of Asheville customers by Nov 18 after Hurricane Helene caused $200 million in infrastructure damage.
- Last year, Hurricane Helene left Asheville's primary water system devastated, severely damaging the North Fork treatment plant that supplies 80% of Asheville customers and creating a public health crisis in Buncombe County.
- Heavy rain and overtopping toppled a fusegate and washed out the two main transmission pipelines and an auxiliary bypass line after 17.51 inches of rain at North Fork Reservoir.
- Three contracting companies paused other work to repair pipes, while Asheville Water Resources Department seeks federal funding for a $200 million filtration project with FEMA talks underway.
- Within three weeks, crews restored water for basic uses while full normal usage returned by Nov. 18, but the fire department couldn't use hydrants and vulnerabilities persist, spokesperson Clay Chandler said.
- Temporary systems face a funding cliff at month-end, costing roughly $6 million monthly, while multi-year Mills River upgrades to 15 million gallons per day and a $60 million bypass may stretch to about 2032.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Officials mark one year since Hurricane Helene, highlight progress on repairs
HAYWOOD COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — One year after Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina, federal, state and local leaders gathered Friday to reflect on the storm’s toll and highlight the progress made in recovery efforts. Helene struck on Sept. 27, 2024, becoming the state’s deadliest and most destructive storm. The storm claimed 108 lives and caused billions of dollars in damage to homes, businesses, natural attractions, and transportatio…
In the Wake of Hurricane Helene: A week I’ll never forget
When Hurricane Helene tore through Ashe County, it left more than just fallen trees, washed-out roads, and downed power lines—it left people stranded, scared, and unsure of where their next meal or clean bottle of water would come from. But…
One year after Helene, Asheville’s water system remains ‘very, very vulnerable’ • Asheville Watchdog
One year after Tropical Storm Helene left Asheville without potable water for nearly two months, the city’s water system remains defenseless against the disruptive powers of a much lesser storm. Since Helene, the city has taken numerous steps to secure the system, including rebuilding and burying a key auxiliary line deeper than its previous depth […]
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