From the city of Asheville:

ASHEVILLE – The City of Asheville Water Resources is currently under contract with Brown and Caldwell engineering firm to assess the condition of two large main transmission lines located in the Black Mountain and Swannanoa areas. This critical pipe infrastructure is responsible for delivering an average of 16.5 million gallons of water to the Asheville and Buncombe County areas on a daily basis. The project scope entails entering the pipes with advanced camera equipment in order to assess the condition of approximately 24,000 linear feet of one 90 year old pipe and approximately 68,000 linear feet of one 50 year old pipe.

The result of the project, which is scheduled to end by the end of March, will include critical information analysis on pipe structure stability, pipe wall thickness, replacement planning, leak reports, mapping and location detail, and potential unknown and unbilled water connections that cannot be seen above ground. The project is truly important to the sustainability and longevity of water service to the customers of the City of Asheville and the Water Resources Department.

The camera insertion into the pipe is also likely to stir sediment inside the pipe. Since the pipes are the main feed for the Asheville and Buncombe county areas, this sediment is likely to be seen in varying areas. To date, the project has seen discolored water travel from the Black Mountain and Swannanoa areas into the north and west parts of Asheville and Buncombe County. The location and duration of the discoloration will vary, and all customers including businesses may experience discolored water at times.

Water Resources staff is monitoring the locations of discolored water and are regularly flushing those areas to clear the water when notified. Water Resources staff is also maintaining regular water sampling and testing protocol during the evaluation to ensure drinking water safety.

The City of Asheville Water Resources Department would like to thank its customers for their patience during this critical project. Updates on the project will be sent by press release if details change and as they come available. Customers are advised to wait until the water is clear before consuming it or using the water for cleaning. Customers who experience discolored water can call the Customer Services division at (828) 251-1122 to report it.