Asheville reservoir to get direct water treatment in effort to speed return of supply

Officials visit North Fork Reservoir for ‘All hands on deck’ approach

The restoration of water treatment at North Fork Reservoir progressed Thursday, though the return of potable water in Asheville remains a moving target.

Direct treatment of the North Fork Reservoir

Following word earlier that morning that the reservoir’s 36-inch bypass line was connected to the water supply, a gathering of local, state and federal officials announced plans to accelerate water quality improvement by treating the water in the reservoir directly, using some of the same tactics applied at the water treatment plant.

U.S. EPA Administrator Michael Regan and Gov. Roy Cooper visit the reservoir

U.S. EPA Administrator Michael Regan and Gov. Roy Cooper visited the reservoir for a briefing as part of a tour of storm-ravaged areas of Western North Carolina.

Priority No. 1: Providing clean drinking water

“Priority No. 1 is to get clean, quality drinking water to everyone who doesn’t have that,” Regan said. “And so as we look at private wells and the water system, we want to be able to provide every single asset we have.”

Direct treatment process

David Melton, Asheville’s water resources director, explained that the point of direct treatment is to get the reservoir, which is currently murky brown due to sediment, to a place where it can be treated by the water plant. The chemical treatment, aluminum sulfate, bonds clay particles together and causes them to sink to the bottom. It will be applied in 500-foot swathes radiating out from the intake.

Challenges in restoring water clarity

The reservoir typically exceeds EPA water quality standards and is clear to a depth of 10 feet. However, without direct treatment, it could take weeks or even months for the water in the reservoir to become clearer.

Importance of improving water infrastructure

Governor Cooper emphasized the need to not only rebuild damaged water infrastructure but also improve it in the face of natural disasters like Tropical Storm Helene. He highlighted the unprecedented nature of the disaster and the need to consider the impact on water systems when rebuilding and repairing.

How North Fork Reservoir water is typically treated

The reservoir stores untreated water pumped from the Mills River, where suspended material typically settles out. At the treatment plant, any remaining particulate is treated with aluminum sulfate, which causes the heavy particles to settle out into catch basins. The water then undergoes additional disinfection, filtration, and balancing of acidity before the addition of fluoride, corrosion inhibitors, and chlorine to preserve water quality in the distribution system.

Additional water resources

The Asheville Water Resources Department and Department of Public Works are working to find leaks and broken lines in other places around the city. Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer commended their efforts and dedication to meeting the city’s water needs.

Testing private wells

For residents with private wells in Western North Carolina, the EPA has a mobile testing lab capable of testing 100 samples per day. Residents can contact their local health agency to obtain testing equipment, and the EPA will test the water for free with a turnaround time of approximately 48 hours. This initiative aims to ensure confidence in the safety of drinking water.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation – The efforts to restore water treatment at North Fork Reservoir align with SDG 6, which aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
2. Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – The improvement of water infrastructure in Asheville demonstrates progress towards SDG 9, which focuses on building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation.
3. Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – The actions taken by local, state, and federal officials in Asheville contribute to SDG 11, which seeks to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
4. Goal 13: Climate Action – The need to rebuild and repair water systems in the face of natural disasters like Tropical Storm Helene highlights the importance of SDG 13, which calls for urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 13: Climate Action

The article discusses the restoration of water treatment at North Fork Reservoir in Asheville, which is directly related to SDG 6, as it focuses on ensuring clean water and sanitation for the community. It also mentions the use of tactics applied at the water treatment plant, which connects to SDG 9, as it involves innovation and infrastructure development. The article further highlights the need to rebuild and improve water systems in the face of climate-related disasters like Tropical Storm Helene, linking to SDG 11 and SDG 13.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
• SDG 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping, and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials.
• SDG 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.
• SDG 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.
• SDG 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

Based on the article, the targets mentioned above can be identified. The restoration of water treatment and the provision of clean, quality drinking water to everyone align with SDG 6.1 and SDG 6.3. The efforts to improve water quality and infrastructure development at North Fork Reservoir relate to SDG 9.1. The need to rebuild and repair water systems in the face of climate-related disasters connects to SDG 11.5 and SDG 13.1.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 6.1.1: Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services.
• Indicator 6.3.2: Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality.
• Indicator 9.1.1: Proportion of the rural population who live within 2 km of an all-season road.
• Indicator 11.5.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.
• Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.

Although the article does not explicitly mention these indicators, they can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These indicators would assess the proportion of the population with access to safe drinking water, the quality of bodies of water, the accessibility of infrastructure, and the impact of disasters on the population.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: citizen-times.com