Asheville residents have running water, but still can’t drink it

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WSPA) – The City of Asheville and nearby communities have been under a water boil notice for since Hurricane Helene swept through the Carolinas.

The hurricane resulted in sediment deposits entering the water reservoir that caters the region.

Asheville draws water from the North Fork reservoir in nearby Black Mountain.

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City officials said that 99% of customers have running tap water, however it's not suitable for drinking.

Why not? In simple terms, the water is not clear enough, or the turbidity is too high.

On Thursday, workers tested the Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NPU) levels in the water. Results showed that the water measured at 21 NPU

Asheville officials said normal turbidity levels that make it safe for workers to treat water are between 1.5-2.0 NPU.

"Turbidity is dropping six to seven tenths of a point per day," said one official during a press conference . "Now we are very very hopeful that what you are seeing happening right there, the treatment process, will speed that drop up."

Since Monday, workers have been placing turbidity curtains in the reservoir that help filter out sediment.

Katie Toomey is a Black Mountain resident and retired nurse. She lives right next to the reservoir.

When Helene hit, Toomey said her driveway looked like a "mini waterfall".

"It was over two feet of rain. Over two feet and they said that it looked like chocolate milk after the hurricane and after a couple weeks it didn't look much better," said Toomey. "We knew it's a long process."

Toomey said for weeks, she's only been using bottled water to drink and wash her dishes with — despite having running tap water.

"It's frustrating," she said.

But Toomey says she's grateful for the workers working day in and out right next to her home.

"They're doing what they can," said Toomey. "Those guys in the water treatment plant, because they had to drive right by here. They were there all that first weekend and ever since. So, they've been doing everything they can possibly do, so we appreciate them."

Officials said they'll retest the reservoir over the weekend, then reevaluate options next week.