Laura Lee

Nov 15, 2024 | bpr.org | Laura Lee

This is a developing story and will be updated. Asheville residents could have drinkable water in their taps as early as Wednesday of next week. Water Resources spokesperson Clay Chandler said the city is testing water samples this weekend, and if the results are acceptable, the boil water notice could be lifted as early as Tuesday evening. The city has been flushing the system of untreated water for about a week, Chandler said.

Nov 14, 2024 | bpr.org | Laura Lee

The drinking water challenge in Asheville expanded today. Without the city's normal mitigation measures, detectable levels of lead accumulated in internal plumbing at seven area schools. The finding raises issues for residents who may have lead exposure risk in their homes. "It is very important to note that the students have not consumed the tap water at any of these schools or childcare facilities," Water Resources spokesperson Clay Chandler said in Thursday's briefing.

Nov 3, 2024 | bpr.org | Laura Lee

More than 4.2 million North Carolinians cast their ballots statewide during early voting, surpassing the 2020 early voting total of about 3.6 million voters. Early voting statistics from the State Board of Elections (BOE) showed Hurricane Helene did not deter voters in Western North Carolina from casting their votes. "Voters in the 25 Western North Carolina counties affected by Hurricane Helene continue to outpace the rest of the state in voter turnout," a statement from the state BOE said.

Nov 1, 2024 | bpr.org | Laura Lee

This is a developing story and will be updated. Water restoration in the City of Asheville has a long-awaited timeline, according to Asheville City Council member Maggie Ullman. In an Instagram video posted Friday morning, Ullman said there is a "Plan B" if the aluminum sulfate treatment (alum) treatment does not sufficiently reduce the sediment at the North Fork Reservoir. The plans will bring "an end to this crisis, hell or high water," she said.

Oct 30, 2024 | bpr.org | Laura Lee

"Water resources has a really big week this week," Asheville Water Resources Public Information Officer Clay Chandler said at Monday's community briefing. The big week he described includes a second aluminum sulfate and caustic soda treatment of the city’s main reservoir, North Fork, in the hopes of moving it toward a drinkable condition. Asheville has been without consumable tap water since Hurricane Helene turned the reservoir "upside down" more than a month ago.