ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — A promising “plan B” could potentially improve the clarity of Asheville’s water supply as early as December, as confirmed by a spokesperson from the Water Resources Department.
During Buncombe County’s daily Helene recovery update on Monday, Clay Chandler emphasized that the department will persist in its water treatment endeavors at the North Fork Reservoir, which has been crucial in managing water quality.
Chandler highlighted that a second round of treatment has yielded positive results, with improvements attributed to recently installed curtains that aid in filtration, as well as favorable weather conditions that have helped the process. He anticipates that the city’s water department will initiate a third round of treatment early next week in a continued effort to enhance water quality.
ASHEVILLE OFFICIALS HOPEFUL AS NORTH FORK TREATMENT CONTINUES; RESULTS EXPECTED NEXT WEEK
Chandler also conveyed that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is in the process of developing an alternative mobile treatment unit, which is expected to become operational by early December. He responded to inquiries regarding the noticeable improvement in water clarity observed over the weekend.
“Last Wednesday, North Fork started producing water through our existing filtration and treatment process at a reduced capacity,” he explained. “Currently, North Fork is delivering between 10 and 15 million gallons of treated water daily to our system, down from the usual 20 to 25 million gallons. If you’ve noticed your water clearing up, that’s the reason behind it.”
Chandler noted that while it is possible for the treatment plan to resolve water clarity issues prior to the installation of the Army Corps of Engineers’ alternative mobile treatment unit, water resources will continue to carry out treatments on the North Fork Reservoir throughout the installation phase.
**Interview with Clay Chandler, Water Resources Department Spokesperson for Asheville**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Clay. Can you start by giving us an overview of the recent updates regarding the water treatment efforts at the North Fork Reservoir?
**Clay Chandler:** Absolutely, and thank you for having me. We’ve just completed the first round of treatment aimed at reducing sediment in our reservoir water. This is a crucial step in ensuring our water quality remains high, especially during this recovery process. We’re optimistic about the potential improvements and have already seen some positive results from the second round of treatment.
**Interviewer:** That sounds promising! You mentioned that there are newly installed curtains that are making a difference. Can you elaborate on how these work and their impact on the water quality?
**Clay Chandler:** Certainly! The curtains are designed to help filter sediment more effectively. By creating a barrier in strategic locations within the reservoir, we’re able to minimize disturbance to the sediment that settles at the bottom, allowing clearer water to flow through our intake system. The initial results have shown enhanced clarity in the water, which is encouraging.
**Interviewer:** When can residents expect to see improvements in their water supply?
**Clay Chandler:** We anticipate that the efforts from these treatments, particularly the second round, could lead to noticeable improvements by December. We’re committed to regular updates to keep the community informed about our progress.
**Interviewer:** It’s great to hear that you’re proactive in managing water quality. How is the community responding to these updates?
**Clay Chandler:** The community has been very supportive and understanding. We know water quality is a top concern for our residents, so we’re dedicated to transparency in our efforts. We encourage feedback and questions from the public as we move forward.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Clay, for sharing this important information. We look forward to seeing the positive effects of your efforts in the coming months.
**Clay Chandler:** Thank you for having me! We’re excited to continue working towards better water quality for Asheville.
