Additional Information Last updated or reviewed on January 16, 2026 General Information The City of Asheville owns 22,500 acres of forested mountains surrounding our primary watershed, which makes it one of the largest municipally owned watersheds in the United States. The water department takes the responsibility of protecting the watersheds seriously, which is why most of the land is preserved in conservation easements, protected from development and pollution. The Water Resources Department owns and operates three water treatment plants: North Fork (located in Black Mountain), William DeBruhl (located in Swannanoa), and Mills River (located near the Asheville Regional airport). The North Fork and DeBruhl watersheds are pristine. The reservoirs are fed by pure mountain streams, which are protected from industrial and agricultural contaminants. The Mills River watershed is less pristine, but also provides a valuable source, especially as population grows. The Mills River facility was built with the intent to expand with growing demand. The Mills River watershed covers 47,440 acres, 75% of which lies in the Pisgah National Forest. It includes a trout fishery, fish and wildlife habitat, and a recreational resource. The Mills River plant uses ozone in addition to chlorine for disinfection. For more information about our treatment, distribution, and quality control, please read our annual water quality report. North Fork Weekly Turbidity Levels Tips to Prevent Frozen Water Pipes Pressure Reducing Valves (PRV’s) – Questions and Answers Fire Hydrant Flushing and Waterline Maintenance FAQ’s Rapid Restoration of Asheville’s Drinking Water System after Helene – October 2025 Tropical Storm Helene Sampling Plan and Results Christmas 2022 Water Outage After Action Report Spring 2019 Discolored Water
