Happening Now

These projects have been identified as contributing to the recovery and increased resiliency of the City of Asheville water system.

Fusegate Repair at North Fork Water Treatment Plant

The fusegate that “tipped” during Helene is a component of the auxiliary spillway. The auxiliary spillway functioned exactly as designed and prevented North Fork’s reservoir from overtopping the earthen dam.

• Next Milestone: MorganCorp. started construction of the new fusegate in June 2026, with an estimated build-out time of 90-120 days.
• MorganCorp. achieved substantial completion of the project in early September 2026.
• The auxiliary spillway has returned to full functionality.

​

Debris Removal at North Fork Water Treatment Plant

Storm debris — trees, branches, and other vegetative material — will be removed from key waterways and roads in the watershed that feed the reservoir at North Fork. This helps maintain water flow, prevent flooding, and protect infrastructure. Crews took care to protect healthy vegetation and wildlife during operations. A contractor hired by the state performed the work. Debris was processed on site and hauled to a final disposal facility.

Work began October 6, 2025 and:

• Protected the City’s drinking water system by maintaining water flow and flood prevention.

• Reduced the risk of wildfire damage in sensitive watershed areas.

• Safely and responsibly disposed of storm debris.

• Next Milestone: Debris removal concluded in spring 2026.

Debris Removal at William DeBruhl Water Treatment Plant

Water Resources is currently working with contractors SDR and CDR to revise the scope of their work for debris removal from the Bee Tree Reservoir, some access roads, and some rock removal to allow large equipment to access the area for the removal project. The project is currently in environmental review. We hope physical work will begin by October 2026, with an estimated completion in March 2027. 
 

Temporary Pre-treatment Systems

Temporary pre-treatment systems acted to reduce turbidity of raw water before it enters our filters, which are unable to treat especially turbid water. The systems served as a redundancy for North Fork and DeBruhl. Turbidity at North Fork has returned to pre-Helene readings, and turbidity at DeBruhl is close to that.

• Next Milestone: With FEMA funding no longer available to operate the systems, they ceased operation November 30, 2025. The process to demobilize the systems and remove them from the water treatment plants began December 1 and concluded in early 2026.

​

Road and Bridge Repair at North Fork and Bee Tree Reservoirs

All bridges in both the North Fork and Bee Tree watersheds were destroyed and must be replaced.

• Next Milestone:Temporary structures will be installed to allow access, while permanent repairs will require design and construction contracts.

​

Minor Repairs at Mills River Water Treatment Plant

Minor flood damage occurred at Mills River’s intake. Several intake channel covers washed away. An intake pump was also severely damaged and replaced.

• Next Milestone: Most repairs were completed in the weeks following the storm. The City is pursuing reimbursement through the FEMA Public Assistance Program. 

Repairs at Bee Tree Dam and Spillway

The dam suffered some exterior damage from sloughing due to over-saturation. 

• Next Milestone: Currently in the design process.

Permanent Pre-treatment Solution at North Fork Water Treatment Plant

This critical resilience project will install plate settlers and sediment basins at North Fork that will allow our filters to treat especially turbid water.

• Next Milestone: Water Resources has engaged two private engineering firms to perform pre-construction planning and design for two project packages.

• The designs must reach 60 percent completion before submission to FEMA for review under the agency's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

• Water Resources anticipates that threshold will be met in spring 2027.

Permanent Pre-treatment Solution at William DeBruhl Water Treatment Plant

This critical resilience project will install plate settlers and sediment basins at DeBruhl in Bee Tree that will allow our filters to treat especially turbid water.

• Next Milestone: FEMA certified the project under its Public Assistance Program. While this does not obligate FEMA funding, it does represent a critical milestone.

Water Transmission Main No. 3 (Alternate Bypass) at North Fork Water Treatment Plant

This critical resilience project provides an additional bypass water line to supplement the existing bypass that washed out during Helene. The alternate bypass will be geographically separate from the current bypass. It will, to the degree possible, avoid the flood plain along the Swannanoa River.

• Next Milestone: Water Resources has applied for funding under FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for pre-construction planning and design.

• The project's design must be 60 percent complete before submission for FEMA review. Water Resources anticipates that threshold being met in spring 2027.

• Water Resources has started the process of engaging with private property owners with parcels along the proposed route about possible easements.

​

Location of Fourth Water Treatment Plant

To increase capacity and meet rising demand, Water Resources will eventually require a fourth treatment plant. The new plant will need to be located in the western service area and will draw water from the French Broad River.

• Next Milestone: Water Resources is seeking a $2 million grant from the federal Economic Development Administration to fund exploration of three potential sites that meet location, distribution and production metrics.

Background

When Hurricane Helene hit western North Carolina on September 27, 2024 as a Tropical Storm, it caused catastrophic damage to the City's water production and distribution systems. The main distribution line from North Fork Water Treatment Plant was destroyed by floodwaters and turbidity (presence of sediment) in the water at North Fork and DeBruhl facilities made the water untreatable even if the distribution system was intact.

As the City moved from the response to the recovery phase, building back better and with greater resiliency has been the focus. These projects have been identified as those that will contribute to that goal.