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Water Safety
Public Health Guidelines
Gastroenteritis Post-Hurricane Helene: After major flooding events, such as Hurricane Helene, the risk of gastroenteritis—a stomach and intestinal illness—increases due to contaminated water, limited hygiene, and food safety challenges.
Dr. Jennifer Mullendore, medical director with Buncombe County, recommends washing hands with soap or using hand sanitizer and consuming safe drinking water including bottled water or water that has been boiled. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, headache, muscle aches. Click here for more information.
Community Concern Notice:
As water pressure is restored to parts of Western North Carolina, please be advised that tap water may not be safe for any use. If the water shows any unusual, chemical, or oily smell, taste, or texture, consider disposing of it and continue using bottled water. Check your local authorities for the status of your tap water and consider continuing to filter and boil all tap water intended for drinking, cooking, and washing until further notice. (10/30/24)
CLICK HERE for a crowdsourced document on safety practices on handling flood water and mud
BLACK MOUNTAIN–Town of Black Mountain water is now under a boil water notice, meaning after vigorously boiling for 1 minute, this water can be used for drinking, cooking, and more. (changed 10/18)
ASHEVILLE WATER SYSTEM NOTICE
- Official City of Asheville Frequently Asked Questions about water safety and handling: click here for link
- Official Up-to-date Asheville Water Testing Results: click here for link
Water Service Restoration
Some customers who are very close to the North Fork Water Treatment facility in Lake Eden and Swannanoa have seen water service return. Water Resources is in the process of expanding service to Haw Creek and parts of Fairview. 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. Service will return slowly and incrementally, moving in a generally westward direction from North Fork toward Asheville.
What to do before water service returns:
- Flip off the breaker to your water heater.
- Turn off water to your water heater.
- Turn off hot water under your sinks.
- Remove aerator (it typically unscrews) on faucets.
- Turn off the ice maker.
- Turn off water to your whole house filter, if you have one.
What to do when your water service returns
- Run cold water through a non-aerated faucet, such as a bathtub or a water hose, for about 15 minutes or until the water turns clear.
- Turn on your water heater and water heater breaker, and reattach your faucet aerator.
- It’s safe to flush your toilet after completing steps 1 and 2.
- 𝗕𝗼𝗶𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗼𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲 before using it for cooking, brushing teeth, or drinking. It’s safe for showers, but avoid getting water in your mouth. Sponge baths are recommended for babies and small children. Do not use tap water to make ice until it is safe to consume.
𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁? Newly available water will contain more sediment than usual. These steps will allow sediment to flow freely out of the water system and prevent it from collecting where it shouldn’t, such as in your aerator and in appliances. Turning off your ice maker ensures that you will not ingest water that is not yet safe to consume.
- All water in the City of Asheville is under a boil advisory. Boil all water vigorously for at least one minute before using it for any consumption, such as cooking, brushing teeth, and drinking.
- The water is safe for showers, officials say, but residents should avoid getting water in the mouth. Parents and guardians should consider sponge baths for babies and small children.
- If you remain without water, turn off the water heater to prevent fire risk.
- If you see a leak in your area, please report it to customer service: 828-251-1122.
The City of Asheville is not assessing late fees for water bills, sending delinquent notices, creating new bills, or doing any cuts-offs for non-payment at this time. We are still accepting payments online, IVR, and by mail for anyone that is trying to pay an existing bill. Please contact customer service at 828-251-1122 if you have billing concerns.
BOIL ADVISORY
ASHEVILLE CITY WATER: BOIL ADVISORY!
BLACK MOUNTAIN WATER: BOIL ADVISORY!
BOIL ADVISORY NOTES:
- Boiling vigorously for 1 full minute is highly recommended for drinking and washing dishes or you risk serious disease!!
- You can shower during a boil advisory but please be careful to not swallow any water and take care not to get water in your eyes, mouth, or nose.
- If you cannot boil water, 8 drops of regular bleach to one gallon of water. Only use regular, unscented chlorine bleach products that are suitable for disinfection and sanitization as indicated on the label. The label may say that the active ingredient contains 6 or 8.25% of sodium hypochlorite. Do not use scented, color safe, or bleaches with added cleaners. Stir and let stand for 30 minutes before drinking.
WELL WATER SAFETY
Well Water (if well did NOT flood): BOIL ADVISORY! Have your well tested for safe consumption.
Well Water (if the well did flood): DO NOT CONSUME! A flooded well is a well where water was over the top of the well at any point in the storm. Flooded or damaged wells need to be disinfected. Here’s how to disinfect wells. After disinfection, water will need to be sampled. Beginning 10/10/24, you can get well water testing kits at 30 Valley Street in Asheville daily from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Directions For Collecting Water Sample
Follow well shock chlorination instructions provided. Pay close attention to step #6 of the process. Do NOT run the chlorinated water through your drains into the septic tank.
1. When collecting a distribution tap sample, the water in the service line should be completely flushed.
- Do not sample from taps surrounded by excessive foliage (leaves, flowers, etc) or taps that are dirty, corroded or leaking.
- Never collect a sample from a hose or any other attachment fastened to a faucet.
- The sample bottle should never come in contact with the faucet.
- Do not lay the sample container lid down, splatter water on the lid or container, and never touch the inside of the container or lid.
- Make sure to disinfect your well using the provided instructions BEFORE collecting the sample.
2. The water sample to be tested for bacteria must be collected in the sterilized bottle you received when you applied. The bottle contains a dechlorinating agent, sodium thiosulfate. If the bottle is damaged or the lid is loose, do not use the bottle. Contact this office for replacement.
3. It is best to take your sample from a frequently used distribution tap such as the kitchen faucet.
4. Before taking sample, let the water run from the tap 5 minutes. Before taking sample, ensure cleaning of faucet head with alcohol swabs.
5. When taking the sample, let nothing but the water itself come in contact with the mouth of the bottle or the inside of the cap. Fill the bottle at least to the 100 ml line, but do not fill bottle completely. Leave ½ inch of air space at the top of the bottle.
6. Bring all samples back to Environmental Health at 30 Valley St. the same day of collection. Samples must be analyzed within 30 hours of the collection. Do not mail samples.
7. Do not place a label or sticker on the side of the bottle.
Samples must be returned to 30 Valley Street weekdays from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Results will be provided in 48 hours by phone or email.
Additional Well Water Resource and Info - https://nc-helene-data-nu.hub.arcgis.com/pages/well-water-resources/
A permit for drilling a well is needed and can be found online at buncombecounty.org/eh.
After The Flood: How to inspect, purge, and disinfect your well.
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