When will Asheville water be restored? How to stay safe during boil water advisory

In a press conference Sunday morning, County Manager Avril Pinder said they are still working to set up food and water distribution sites. None are currently available.

Pinder said the location of sites would be shared “as soon as they are available.” She said transportation has been “the biggest hold up.”

“We know individual organizations are providing support, we don’t have a list of those, but we know that for Buncombe county to get through this, we are all going to need to lift each other up and fill in those gaps,” Pinder said.

What’s the status of Asheville’s water system

Preliminary assessments of the Asheville water system revealed that the storm had caused severe damage, said Assistant City Manager Ben Woody Saturday. “This means that extensive repairs are required to restore our water system.”

Government and private sector partners have been engaged to begin the procurement process for additional materials, equipment and personnel. Assessment is ongoing and will continue as flood waters recede, he said.

He reminded people that a boil water advisory is in place, meaning: boil water vigorously for at least one minute before using as drinking water.

This is a “generational weather event,” Woody said. “Although providing an accurate timeline is impossible, I want to be clear that service restoration will be an extended effort.”

Latest: Western North Carolina floods: 10 confirmed deaths in Buncombe County from Helene; still no water distribution sites

Live: Asheville, NC floods live updates: County receives 6,000 requests for wellness checks

Boil water advisory: How to stay safe

The CDC suggests using bottled or boiled water for drinking and to prepare and cook food. Use bottled water for pets as well.

To safely boil water for food consumption, bring water to a full boil for 1 minute and allowing it to cool before using it.  Boil tap water even if it is filtered (for example, by a home water filter or a pitcher that filters water).

The CDC also recommends not using water from any appliance connected to your water line, such as ice and water from a refrigerator.

Breastfeeding is the best infant feeding option, CDC states. If you formula feed your child, provide ready-to-use formula, if possible.

Brush teeth with boiled or bottled water. Do not use tap water that you have not boiled first.

Be careful not to swallow any water when bathing or showering. Use caution when bathing babies and young children. Consider giving them a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water.

Find more tips from the CDC here.

If you have water, fill bathtubs, containers

Customers who currently have water should fill bathtubs and other available containers in preparation for loss of service, the city said in a Sept. 28 update.

Ration any potable water available

With limited resources, it told people to only use potable water for drinking, not for flushing.

More: Asheville water distribution sites still not available: What we know

When will drinking water be distributed?

The State Emergency Operations Center is sending potable water to Asheville, the update said. Designated distribution points will be established and a distribution system is currently being put in place. As of the Sunday morning press conference, the water had not yet arrived and distribution plans were not yet available.

“We intend to have some water services if you will bear with us and be patient one more day. I hate to say that because I know how desperate water is in our community, but we are pushing as hard as we can to get them up the mountain,” Pinder said.

Pinder acknowledged the timeline has been a “moving target” and “very frustrating.” They have been working with state emergency management to push for water. The county has been identifying sites and staff to work the sites once resources arrive, she said.

“As soon as we know the ETA of the water getting here, or the food getting here, we will put that out,” Pinder said.

Why didn’t Asheville have emergency water supplies on hand?

To a question about why no other existing water supplies were on hand, Pinder said they did have resources, but it was “on the other side of the river in Swannanoa so that has been cut off for us as well.”

CDC information was used in this article.

Sarah Honosky is the city government reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. News Tips? Email shonosky@citizentimes.com or message on Twitter at @slhonosky. Please support local, daily journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville water: How to stay safe during boil water advisory