Sustainability expert Doug Bruggeman is proposing an investment strategy to protect multiple watersheds in WNC.

N.C. Supreme Court rules taking of Asheville water system unconstitu­tional

“Many years ago,” says Mayor Manheimer, “our city leadership made the bold and wise investment in a watershed and water infrastructure that provided the foundation for the robust water system we have today … This ruling ensures that Asheville can continue to own this great water system and continue to provide safe drinking water for years into the future.”

Should WNC’s drinking-water systems be publicly or privately owned?

Figuring out ways to preserve, repair and enhance decades-old — or even century-old — water systems provides a flood of challenges for cities, towns and communities across North Carolina’s mountains. And, experts say, ownership structures of those water systems may influence infrastructure upgrades, service quality and the ultimate price water users pay.