Boil Water Advisory Lifted Ahead of Schedule

At 1:10 p.m. on November 18, 2024, the City of Asheville Water Resources Department proclaimed the end of its “boil water advisory” that had been in place since Hurricane Helene hit WNC September 27, 2024.

Just 7-1/2 weeks after the most devastating storm to hit Asheville this century, the department announced that “laboratory results for sampling conducted November 16 and 17, 2024 show that the water supply is free from contaminants.”

On its website announcement, the department states, “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.”

Recommendations Include Precautions

While Asheville’s water is clean and clear, the announcement contained several ongoing reminders. For instance, it has been recommended for more than 35 years that residents whose plumbing was installed before 1988 should flush their cold-water tap for at least 30 seconds before using the water. This is because lead piping—which has been determined to cause learning disabilities and other health conditions—was allowed for residential plumbing until a 1988 federal ban on using lead for piping, joints, and fixtures.

Customers are also encouraged to temporarily avoid large-volume activities—filling bathtubs, taking abnormally long showers, landscape watering, etc.—so as to allow the system to return to normal delivery levels.

But the water, according to the Department, is safe to drink and safe for all everyday uses such as bathing, handwashing, dishwashing, and laundry. If filtered appliances such as water heaters and icemakers have been turned off, they can now be turned back on for normal use—though residents should follow manufacturers’ instructions on restarting their systems.

Service Restored Faster Than Expected

The restoration of full service and successful testing for chemical and particular contaminants puts a feather in the cap of the Water Resources Department, which has been consistently conservative, even cautious, in its pronouncements. After the water outage several years ago in South Asheville, when the department raised hopes by making promises it was unable to keep, its policy has been to downplay expectations so as to avoid disappointment by consumers.

As recently as Nov. 10 the department suggested that full service might not be restored until mid-December; restoring service a month ahead of schedule—just in time for Thanksgiving—will please both families and businesses, such as restaurants, that can now offer holiday fare without limitations. This time, with far more major damage to the entire system, management has been more transparent about the pace of progress and more successful in meeting, and beating, its predicted milestones.

Government is not the problem

This accomplishment by Asheville’s public service employees gives the lie to those who regularly complain that “government fails us” or “government is the problem, never the solution.” Ronald Reagan famously disparaged public service when he said, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are ‘I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.’” That attitude, along with similar complaints about FEMA’s work after the hurricane, is once again proven utterly wrong.

The Urban News salutes the Water Resources Department and its hundreds of employees—as well as outside contractors and businesses—who have achieved this milestone. In particular, we take this opportunity to thank Water Services Director David Melton; Chad Pierce, Engineering Services Manager; and Clay Chandler, Communications Specialist who has kept area residents informed of progress in water service restoration.

For more detailed information about the restoration of service, visit www.ashevillenc.gov/helene/water-services-recovery or call (828) 251-1122.