Asheville Relief

Showers & Laundry


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Laundry and Showers

This page’s potable and non-potable water locations have merged into the Hubs Page

If you’re looking for Water Safety notices and precautions, visit WATER SAFETY 

WATER SAFETY & MANAGEMENT

Toilets

Accessing Water from Alternative Sources

COMMUNITY CARE STATIONS (shower/laundry/toilets)

Showers

Laundry

WATER SAFETY & MANAGEMENT

For concerns about water safety and management, visit our page dedicated to WATER SAFETY 

Toilets

Gravity + Siphon Greywater Storage and Distribution System

Toilets of AVL:a crowdsourced google map of public toilets & portapotties, laundry facilities, showers and handwashing stations in areas without running water in the aftermath of Helene. (Screenshot & open in your photos to use the QR code from a phone or visit this link) 

Toilets and Water for Flushing Toilets (Non-potable) Map of public toilets

Accessing Water from Alternative Sources

HOW TO ACCESS WATER FROM WATER HEATER (still needs to be boiled, may need to be filtered)

USING NON-POTABLE WATER FROM DEHUMIDIFIER use dehumidifier or air conditioner to flush toilets daily if/when you have electricity. This could be an effective long-term strategy for easily accessing graywater

FindASpring.org and boil the water on high for one minute (Marshall and Black Mountain)

COMMUNITY CARE STATIONS (shower/laundry/toilets)

Community Care Stations provide space for the public to shower, do laundry, use the bathroom, access cell towers and WiFi, get potable and non-potable water, and access counseling services. They are open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Hot meals are offered at each Community Care Station at lunchtime and dinnertime. Please bring towels, shower shoes, and toiletries if possible; otherwise, items will be provided.

  • AC Reynolds High School (ADA Showers and Bathrooms) (will close at 7pm 11/4 and relocate to Fairview Ingles where it will reopen at 7am on 11/5)
    1 Rocket Drive
  • Fairview Ingles (ADA Accessible) (relocated from AC Reynolds)
    225 Charlotte Highway
  • Swannanoa Ingles (ADA accessible)
    2319 Hwy 70, Swannanoa
  • Morgan Hill Baptist Church  (ADA accessible)
    594 Barnardsville Hwy., Weaverville, NC 28717
  • At Home store facility (old Kmart)  (ADA accessible)
    980 Brevard Rd., Asheville
  • Big Lots (ADA Accessible)
    85 Tunnel Road, Asheville
  • Buncombe County Sports Park  (ADA accessible)
    58 Apac Drive, Asheville
  • Bethel United Methodist Church  (ADA accessible)
    1056 Riceville Road
  • Owens Pool Comfort Station  (ADA accessible)
    117 Stone Drive

Also located at AC Reynolds High School, Novant Health will have a community care cruiser on-site available daily at this location. They will offer urgent care services, including connections to obstetric and pediatric care, as well as a mobile pharmacy. ADA-compliant showers are also accessible at this location in the Red Cross section. These medical resources will be available to all patients at no cost. 

ADA showers are located at the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center, Buncombe County DHHS at 40 Coxe, AC Reynolds High School, Swannanoa Ingles, 980 Brevard Road, Bethel United Methodist, Owens Pool, and Buncombe County Sports Park

Buncombe County registered nurses and the Mobile Team are offering free Tdap, COVID, Flu and Hep A vaccines at Community Care Sites:

  • Swannanoa Ingles: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from noon to 6 p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Buncombe County Sports Park: Wednesdays and Fridays 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
  • Big Lots/Innsbruck Mall: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays Noon – 6 p.m.

Showers

ADA showers are located at the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center, Buncombe County DHHS at 40 Coxe, AC Reynolds High School, Swannanoa Ingles, 980 Brevard Road, Bethel United Methodist, Owens Pool, and Buncombe County Sports Park

  • 10/9.10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The Reuter Family YMCA in Biltmore Park. 3 Town Square Blvd, Asheville, NC 28803. +18286519622. The public will continue to have access at Reuter to free showers, gymnasium, and the youth lounge and playground (parental supervision required), as well as charging and WiFi.
  • 2319 Hwy 70, Swannanoa, 7am-7pm, providing showers, laundry, bathrooms, wifi, water, and counseling. Hot meals available 11am-4pm. Bring your own detergent, shower shoes, towels, and toiletries if possible.
  • Daily 11am-5pm. Truist Bank - off of Haywood Rd (1343 Parkwood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806).
  • Details: Accessibility notes. Showers are cold and there’s a high pitched whine inside shower trailer. Access to showers is a kinda rickety set of metal stairs with a partial handrail. Showers themselves have a small bench in changing section outside each shower but no railings
  • 10 showers, 10 bathrooms, 10 washers and dryers
  • Asheville Farmstead School 218 Morgan Cove Rd, Candler, NC 28715 will be open to families, and the community from Thursday 10/3 10am-2pm for families or community members who need water, a shower, or a space to let their kids play for a bit.  Bring your water jugs and shower stuff!
  • AG Center. The shelter has no running water or power but does have a porta-trailer with bathrooms. 765 Boylston Hwy Fletcher, NC 28732 -hot showers avail, bring own towel but other hygiene products available
  • YMCA Biltmore Park 3 Town Square Blvd 10am-5pm. UPDATE 10/1: long lines but open
  • Calvary Road Church 2701 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley, NC 28751
  • Walmart 60 Airport Rd - trailers in parking lot - wasn’t available 10/2 bc water truck coming from charlotte broke down (10/2 8:30pm)
  • Alpha Fitness 2570 Asheville Hwy
  • Hendersonville is open to non-members for showers 9am-8pm
  • The FEMA Shower and Laundry area at airport road Walmart. Open 7 to 7. Currently on a 2-3 hr delay as of 10 am 10/2 due to water truck delay.  Update 10/5 6:00pm: showers, laundry and hot meals from 7:00am-7:00pm daily
  • Walmart on airport road has a Tide station for laundry and showers. Heard 10/1 5:30 pm not sure of load limits, lines etc
  • Reported on 10/3 Maple Ridge Baptist Church 133 Medford Branch Rd Candler
  • Free showers and laundry at Trinity Baptist Church 216 Shelburne Rd morning until 5pm
  • The Corpening Memorial YMCA in Marion is open from 2-6 p.m. for showers and charging.
  • 10/4, 10am: First Baptist Church,63 N Main Street Weaverville,
  • Red Cross is at At Home. 980 Brevard Rd, Asheville, NC 28806. Showers and restrooms available. (10/14, confirmed on Red Cross NC FB page)
  • 10/4 and ongoing. 10am to 1pm AND 4pm to 7pm. Camp Grier. 985 Camp Grier Rd. in Old Fort. Hot showers, laundry, fresh water, hot meals. (Source: 10/5, Facebook)
  • 2319 Hwy 70, Swannanoa, 7am-7pm, providing showers, laundry, bathrooms, wifi, water, and counseling. Hot meals available 11am-4pm. Bring your own detergent, shower shoes, towels, and toiletries if possible.
  • 10/8 and ongoing. 11am to 5pm. Truist Bank. 1343 Parkwood Ave. Asheville. Water distribution. Showers. 828-245-3400. (Source: 10/6, person utilizing service)

Laundry

  • Basilica of St Lawrence, free “LG Laundry Relief Zone” open daily from 8 am. to 5 pm. Last load starts at 4:30 pm, max 2 loads per person. More info. Still operating as of 10/11 according to here.
  • 2319 Hwy 70, Swannanoa, 7am-7pm, providing showers, laundry, bathrooms, wifi, water, and counseling. Hot meals available 11am-4pm. Bring your own detergent, shower shoes, towels, and toiletries if possible.
  • Canton Laundromat
  • Walmart airport road
  • Target in Arden
  • Weaverville Laundromat,  open 24 hrs. It's location: 1 central ave weaverville nc 28787.
  • Walmart in Arden, 60 Airport Road, Arden NC 29704

ARCHIVE–STAFF USE ONLY

10/3, AM: Water System Update (per United Way, Asheville-Buncombe County)

  • The Mills River Treatment Plant (which serves South Asheville) is functioning, so some residents of Asheville and Buncombe County have water.  Equipment to pressurize the water to push it to maximum output is online.  (Water Co. Safety voicemail, 10/3)
  • The North Fork Water Treatment Plant and the William DeBruhl Water Treatment Plant serve West Asheville, North Asheville, East Asheville, and Downtown Asheville.  
  • North Fork Water Production, 3374 N Fork Left Fork, Black Mountain, NC 28711 remains offline.  It is operational but not delivering water. The plant is currently accessible and crews are working on adequate repairs.
  • William Debruhl Water Plant, 1370 Bee Tree Rd, Swannanoa, NC 28778 remains offline.  It is not accessible, but NCDOT personnel are working on rebuilding the road to that plant.
  • A boil water advisory remains in effect until further notice.

Water Resources System Repair Progress Update 10/8/2024

The city's contractors continue to make progress on rebuilding the 36-inch bypass line at North Fork treatment facility. We are hopeful it will be connected to the distribution system Thursday or Friday.

While that is a major milestone, it is important to note that it does not mean customers will start receiving water. There remains a substantial amount of repairs left to be done on the distribution system. Full system restoration is still potentially weeks away. Further, pushing the current turbid (or sediment-filled) reservoir water through our filters would damage them beyond repair, setting us back months in the restoration process.

We are working with the EPA on some turbidity-reducing measures, though there is no guarantee we'll be able to safely deploy them, or if they'll work if we do. The only fool-proof way to clear turbid water is to wait for the sediment to settle on its own. Even then, the process could be slowed by uncontrollable weather events like additional rain.

Mills River treatment plant, which serves South Asheville, is operating at normal output. While most of the service area has been pressurized, there are still pockets that have not received water service. Water Resources maintenance staff is working to bring water to the entire service area as quickly as possible.

A boil water advisory remains in effect for customers who have water service. Customers with service are also asked to conserve water to minimize service disruptions.

Contractors continue to make progress on large-scale repairs to primary transmission mains throughout our distribution system. This work is sequencing from the source of water, North Fork water treatment plant, out into the system.

City of Asheville Water crews are also making repairs in preparation for the restoration process.  This includes assessing and making repairs as they are found; additionally, as the system pressurizes, new breaks and leaks will be found.

Water Resources is grateful for your patience while we work around the clock to repair our catastrophically damaged water system.

  • Fletcher: Cane Creek Middle School. 570 Lower Brush Creek Rd. Bring containers for water. (10/3)

CITY OF ASHEVILLE Water System Service Updates

Water Service Update 10/11 at 4 p.m

The Water Resources Department continues to make progress in restoring water service to the city. Water Resources personnel and city contractors are working 24 hours a day to bring water service back to customers. Restoration of service is dependent on two specific factors:

  • The ability to remove sediment from the reservoir water is critical to making our filters effective in treating the water to drinking water quality.
  • The complex process that is necessary to pressurize the pipes in the water distribution system.

Because the city is not yet able to fully utilize the North Fork Water Treatment Plan for treatment due to the high levels of sediment in the reservoir water, the decision has been made, in consultation with the EPA, to begin pressurizing the distribution system directly from the reservoir, temporarily bypassing the treatment plant. While the water may include sediment, it will be highly chlorinated to provide as much disinfection as possible under the circumstances.

Some customers who are very close to the North Fork Water Treatment facility may see water service beginning today. 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.

A mandatory Boil Water Notice, which means we have confirmed contaminants in the water, is in effect for customers who receive water from North Fork.

A Boil Water Advisory, which means we have not confirmed the presence of contaminants in the water, but have reason to believe they may exist, is in effect for customers who receive water from Mills River.

Here is an approximate map of service areas from the City of Asheville water treatment plants.It’s also important to note that service boundaries among our three facilities are not precise. There will be bleed-over, especially in areas close to service boundaries.

In each case, please vigorously boil water for a minimum of one minute before consumption.

The Boil Water Advisory and Boil Water Notice will be lifted when testing indicates the water is safe to drink. Until that time it is recommended that bottled water is used for drinking, cooking and brushing teeth, or the water is boiled before using for these purposes.

As the water lines in the distribution system begin to pressurize, we will become aware of additional damage to those lines. If you see a leak in your area, please report it to customer service: 828-251-1122.

You can find the water service update from the Buncombe County Briefing on October 11 at this link – https://youtu.be/ERMsyoxBoEk

Preparing your home for return of water service

  • As water begins to restore, and if it looks dirty at your house, you can close the valve to your hot water heater or whole house filter to prevent sediment from accumulating. Remember to open the inlet valve once the water is clear.  It is also best to turn the power off to the hot water heater to ensure no damage occurs if you don’t have water but have power.  
  • Other household considerations: If visible sediment appears, turn off ice makers and toilets, flush discolored water through a bathtub faucet.  Then return toilets and ice makers to service.

Water Resources Update on Water System Repairs 10/6/2024

Materials, equipment & personnel are on the ground at all three water treatment plants. At North Fork, contractors are focusing on rebuilding the 36-inch bypass line that Helene destroyed. That line serves 80 percent of Asheville water customers, most of whom are north of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

  • Complications from debris clogging what remains of the bypass line and then rainfall in the watershed after Helene arose on Friday and Saturday. While progress slowed, work continued. On Sunday morning, contractors were able to install new sections of the bypass line.
  • Those complications are an illustration of the impossibility of providing an accurate timeline for service restoration. Full system operations are still potentially weeks away
  • Damage assessments continue at William DeBruhl treatment plant in Bee Tree, after NCDOT crews cleared the road.
  • Mills River plant, which serves South Asheville, is operating at near-maximum output. Customers who have maintained water service are likely to remain in service.. Customers whose service was disrupted should begin to regain it.
  • It is important to note that a boil water advisory remains in effect for customers whose water service is returning. If you plan to use water for drinking, cooking, or any other form of ingestion (including brushing teeth), please boil it vigorously for a minimum of one minute beforehand. Water straight out of the tap is safe for bathing and washing dishes.
  • As service returns, pressure may fluctuate and/or air may be present in water lines. This could cause initial flow out of the tap to be sporadic.
  • Additionally, customers with water in South Asheville should employ conservation measures that will allow us to expand the service area as much as possible. Conserving water does not mean you should use no water -- normal use like flushing toilets and short showers should not cause the system to lose pressure. Large volume activities like filling bathtubs, long showers, watering landscaping, filling swimming pools, and washing vehicles will drastically increase the likelihood of service disruption.

ASHEVILLE WATER SYSTEM UPDATE

At 1 a.m. on Thursday, 𝙏&𝙆 𝙐𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 connected North Fork's 36-inch bypass line to the water distribution system. While that is a significant milestone, there remains a lot of work to do before customers will start receiving water. Repairs continue on the badly damaged water distribution system and Water Resources is working with the EPA and engineering firms on ways to clear up the highly murky water in North Fork's reservoir. Full service restoration is still weeks away, but we are grateful to have completed the first major step forward. (10/10)

  • GAP - Grassroots Aid Partnership.  On Haywood Road across from the Fire Station.  We have free hot foam showers from Dr Bronners and free hot meals.
  • The Fresh Market parking lot at 1378 Hendersonville, Rd, Ashville, N.C. - bottled-water cases of 3 gallons being distributed drive-thru style from a box truck as of 9/30 11am
  • Covenant Community Church near AC Reynolds will be distributing today between 12:00-3:00 (10/2) 11 Rocket Drive, Asheville 28803
  • Sunday 10/06. 10:00am-7:30pm. Asheville Middle School. 211 S. French Broad Ave. Asheville. Cases of bottled water will be available for pick up. (Source: 10/5. Link)
  • 10/3 1pm: TMobile Site wifi/cell/charging station giving away 1 case of water per person at Distribution center at Asheville Middle School (211 S. French Broad Ave, Asheville, NC 28801)
  • 10/5 and 10/6. 10:00am to 12:00pm. Jewish Community Center. 40 Clyde St. Non-potable water. Bring containers and fill from swimming pool. (Source: 10/4, JFS)

Well owners/havers whose wells flooded in Buncombe County and nearby surrounding areas: the French Broad Riverkeeper is offering well testing equipment to folks this Thursday, 10/17, at locations around our region! Here’s the info: If your well has been flooded or flood waters pooled around your well, then we recommend having your well tested for bacteria pollution. We don’t recommend testing every well and there aren’t resources to test every well, so we're asking that just wells that were flooded be tested. Pick up your well testing kit from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. and return it by 3 p.m. on 10/17 at the following locations; we’ll provide you with all the necessary equipment and instructions for well sampling and we’ll have results ready the next day. (source)  

·          Burnsville - Roses parking lot (120 Reservoir Rd, Burnsville, NC)

·          Hot Springs Elementary School (63 N Serpentine Ave, Hot Springs, NC)

·          Fairview - Food Lion parking lot (1350 Charlotte Hwy, Fairview, NC)

·          Barnardsville Fire Station (100 Dillingham Rd, Barnardsville, NC)

·          Hendersonville - Jackson Park (801 4th Ave E, Hendersonville, NC)

·          Canton First Baptist Church (208 Academy St, Canton, NC)

 10/3, 2pm: Pack Square Park, 80 Court Plaza, Asheville, NC 28801: Bring your own water container, 2 gallons per person/day, walk-up (10/3)

  • Davidson Oil NOT Harley Davidson that is handing out water. 116 Alexander Place Swannanoa, NC 28778
  • as you start to receive water service, do NOT drink this water, do NOT use it for any purpose other than flushing your toilet. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRINK EVEN IF BOILED! Do NOT give this to your pets! (source county briefing 10/11 and Blue Ridge Public Radio still current as of 10/15)
  • Asheville - 10/3: Asheville Jewish Community Center Aquatics Center (JCC Pool) at 40 Clyde Street on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon.
  • Distributing water from the public pool for TOILET FLUSHING ONLY. NON POTABLE! Bring your own container.  Directly behind and down the hill from the gas station and Charlotte Street Animal Hospital on Charlotte street.
  • Asheville - 10/17. City of Asheville food and water distribution sites now providing non-potable water (bring your own container): 7am - 7pm
  • Pack Square Park, 70 Court Plaza (1pm until dark)
  • Sky Lanes Bowling, 1477 Patton Ave (relocated from Asheville Middle School)
  • 980 Brevard Road (former K-Mart/current At Home facility) parking lot. This location replaces Lucy Herring Elementary)
  • 85 Tunnel Rd (relocated from Oakley Elementary School)
  • FlushAVL is working to bring non-potable water and flushing toilets to Asheville: https://flushavl.com/ 
  • North Windy Ridge Intermediate School, 20 Doan Rd, Weaverville, NC 28787. (10/1) 

For any homes that have power, but no water service, and an electric water heater: you need to turn off the circuit breaker to the water heater. If it is allowed to run without an inflow of water, it can burn out critical components.

Firestorm now has ongoing spring water distribution (1022 Haywood Rd) hours 12-5, accepting donations (updated 10/4, 4pm) https://firestorm.coop/ 

  • 10/3, mid-afternoon  - Urban Dharma had free buckets and sawdust as well as instructions for creating composting toilets - but said they were sending over to Firestorm.

*System Updates for Western North Carolina **Mountain Region*

   - Elk River wastewater treatment plant is not operating at this time,

   plans are underway to reestablish service.

   - Elk River’s main road is now open, and we were able to get generators

      to three well sites to provide water to about 50 percent of the community.

      We are working on a plan to restore the system 100 percent after road

      repairs and water main replacements are finished.

   - Mountain Air still has no power or water; generators are onsite and on

   standby while we await landslide repair by POA/HOA contractor.

   - Mount Mitchell lost power yesterday, and a generator is on standby

   during water line repairs. Water service is currently sporadic. We remain

   diligent in restorations for these and all systems in the area.

*Rescinded Boil Water Advisories – these areas no longer need to boil their

water before using.*

   - Ski Mountain – RESCINDED on 10/10 @ 11 a.m.

   - All Sugar Mountain - RESCINDED on 10/10 @ 4 p.m.

*Subdivisions on a Boil Water Advisory*

   - Crystal Mountain

   - Elk River

   - Hound Ears

   - Linville Ridge

   - Mount Mitchell

   - Mountain Air

   - Nikanor

   - Ski Country

   - Wolf Laurel

   - Powder Horn – due to an emergency repair in the subdivision – issued

   Oct 8

   - High Vista – due to an emergency repair in the subdivision – issued

   Oct 8

*** Connestee Falls – all lakes remain closed for recreational contact and

swimming.*

  • 10/2 7pm: Open 12-7, William W. Estes Elementary School - 275 Overlook Road, Asheville (WLOS News). Free meals daily 12-4pm. Supplies daily 12-4pm. Potable water and toilet water available 1-7pm daily
  • There was/is a water tanker that was giving out water as of 4 PM 9/30 at the McDonalds in Old Fort.
  • Sam’s Club. 645 Patton Ave. Water distribution. (10/3)
  • The Quil and Honey - free water and a shower closed as of 10/2, 7PM
  • Yalla Food Truck (76 Biltmore Ave Asheville) is doing free food, water, resource distribution from 11-8 daily, end date unknown (updated 10/4, 6pm, source is an asheville local)
  • Rugby Middle school 3345 Haywood Rd, Hendersonville, NC(12-6)
  • North Henderson high 35 Fruitland Rd, Hendersonville, NC
  • 10/3 Weaverville: North Windy Ridge Intermediate (20 Doan Rd, Weaverville) {WLOS News 13}
  • Black Mountain Swimming Pool at Lake Tomahawk Park: FREE WATER BRING YOUR OWN CONTAINER until 7pm 9/29
  • Lowe’s on Smoky Park has water 95 Smokey Park Hwy, Asheville, NC 28806 - 1 case, 1 gallon person
  • The Fresh Market - FREE bottled water 944 Merrimon Ave (DELAYED until 10am 9/30). Trucks are on their way but experiencing delays
  • LEICESTER: Leicester Elementary School. 31 Gilbert Rd. Food and water. Bring containers for water. (10/3)
  • CANTON: Canton Plaza off of New Clyde Highway is giving away 1 gallon of water per person from 8-6pm (9/30)
  • The Whale on Haywood with about 200 gallons of clean drinking water at 11am and 5pm (10/1). Please bring containers
  • Mills River Park 124 Town Center Dr, Mills River: FREE Water/ Food distribution 9/29 until 5pm
  • Arden: Walmart. 60 Airport Rd. Bottled water. (10/3)
  • South Asheville: Walmart. 1636 Hendersonville Rd. Bottled water. (10/3)
  • Water distribution from 10 AM to 5 PM at 1345 Hendersonville Road (Carolina Day School). Each person can receive 6 bottles or 1 gallon of water. Distribution will continue until supplies run out. (10/2)
  • Carolina Day School (Carolina Day School, 1345 Hendersonville Rd, Asheville, NC 28803) will distribute water from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. this week. (10/1)
  • Publix on Hendersonville rd they said they may have a new shipment of water in today (9/29) 1830 Hendersonville Rd, Asheville, NC 28803
  • Ingles on airport rd was handing out free water and ice yesterday (9/28) 352 Airport Rd, Arden, NC 28704