Press release from the city of Asheville:
The City’s system-wide boil water advisory has been cancelled but remains in effect for 1,000 customers in east Asheville.
Out of an abundance of caution the City of Asheville issued a system-wide boil water advisory when a 24-inch transmission waterline ruptured Tuesday night.
As Water Maintenance worked through this repair today, they discovered not all customers would be affected. Customers affected are from Bee Tree Road to Upper Grassy Branch Road.
Under a boil water advisory, customers are encouraged to vigorously boil tap water for 1 minute before consuming it. City staff are performing laboratory testing and the advisory will be lifted when tests confirm the possibility of risk is not present. Customers will receive notification that the advisory has been lifted via the AVL Alert system and it will be posted on the City of Asheville website as well as the City’s Facebook page and Twitter feed.
We understand that the timing of the AVL Alert has prompted some questions from customers. This was done to ensure public safety and health. Read more about boil water advisory protocol at this link.
Some customers lost water or water pressure during the initial phase of this outage. Water pressure has since been restored. If you experience a loss of water or pressure today or any day, please call Customer Service at 828-251-1122.
The North Fork Bridge Transmission Line Bypass Project installed in 2019 allowed the City to quickly restore water to all customers in this situation. Designed to better protect the Asheville Water System from widespread outages or a complete failure, that project included installation of 1,700 feet of 36-inch transmission waterline with tie-ins to existing 36-inch and 24 inch-transmission lines to the north and south of the bridge crossing of the Swannanoa River.
Find more details about that project here: Water transmission line tie-in project completed
Again, the City encourages ALL residents to sign up for AVL Alerts to receive timely emergency notification and information. For more information, visit this link.
An earlier press release (Jan. 8 at 7:48 a.m.) from the city advised:
A major waterline break that occurred Tuesday night in east Asheville triggered a system-wide boil water advisory for all Asheville water customers that remains in effect today. Water has been restored following an outage.
The North Fork Bridge Transmission Line Bypass Project installed in 2019 allowed the City to quickly restore water to all customers in this situation.
Designed to better protect the Asheville Water System from widespread outages or a complete failure, that project included installation of 1,700 feet of 36-inch transmission waterline with tie-ins to existing 36-inch and 24 inch-transmission lines to the north and south of the bridge crossing of the Swannanoa River.
Water Resource reports that this 24-inch water transmission line break has been isolated and water pressure is normal. Water should be restored to all customers, though a boil water advisory remains in effect.
The cause of this break is not known.
The following information was sent via AVl Alert and posted on the City’s website shortly before 1 a.m. today:
The City of Asheville (COA) Water Resources Department would like to report an emergency water interruption due to a waterline repair on/in East Asheville Pump Station. This interruption of water requires issuance of a Boil Water Advisory.
The City encourages customers to vigorously boil tap water for 1 minute before consuming it. City staff are performing laboratory testing and the advisory will be lifted when tests confirm the possibility of risk is not present. Customers will receive notification that the advisory has been lifted via the same communication process as this advisory.
When water systems experience low pressure or lose pressure, there is an increased risk of contamination. This does not mean that the water is contaminated, but that the possibility exists. Once pressure returns, there is the possibility that some discolored water or air could be present in the lines. Customers are advised to run cold water for 5-10 minutes or until water is clear. Properties in the affected areas are receiving this notification via the automated AVL Alert system. Residents may register for these alerts by clicking on the AVL Alert sign-up link: https://member.everbridge.net/index/453003085611892#/login.
For more information, please call 828-251-1122, or visit https://www.ashevillenc.gov/service/water-quality-advisories.
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