North Fork Dam Improvement Project Happening Now After more than two years of construction, the North Fork Dam Improvement Project is nearing completion. This will deliver to our community a safer dam with more capacity to hold water from the reservoir and one that is better enforced against potential seismic activity. It is scheduled to be fully operational as of October 31. As this project nears completion, the City of Asheville reached out to the community on the City’s Virtual Engagement Hub, asking what remaining questions people may have. On August 17, the City will posted a pre-recorded presentation about this project that provides an overview of the dam improvements and answers the questions submitted. See the presentation below. Accomplishments since Spring 2018 Due to excessive amounts of rain in 2018 and winter 2020 the North Fork Dam Improvement Project has been somewhat delayed. Project completion is now on track for late summer 2020. Of note, the property received over 90 inches of precipitation in 2018, causing construction delays. Progress update for the auxiliary spillway and dam improvements: 75% of the buttressing of the main dam is complete. Water / run-off collection system is complete on the main dam. Principal spillway chute overlay is complete. Work to remove the existing tainter gates, installation of obermeyer gate, and pouring of concrete weirs on the principal spillway is 75% complete. Improvements to the intake tower are essentially complete. The tower now sports a red metal roof with a longer life cycle than the traditional shingles. Extension of the conduit and tunnel are complete. Auxiliary spillway: Fusegates were completed in eight (8) weeks in the spring of 2019. Over 50% of the spillway chute is complete. Walls are still being constructed. Surrounding invasive vegetation (Silvergrass, Kudzu) treated with herbicide is 75% complete. All the equipment related to the temporary raw water by-pass (pumps, barges, piping, and electrical panels) has been removed from the reservoir and dam, allowing for normal operations to resume. Background In a continued effort to prevent significant damage in the event of a natural disaster (flood or earthquake), the City of Asheville, in conjunction with consultants from Schnabel Engineering, have identified proactive improvement measures to be taken at the North Fork Reservoir to protect and improve critical infrastructure. The North Fork Reservoir and Water Treatment Plant serve as the City’s primary drinking water source, providing 70% of Asheville’s water. With so many people, businesses and industries dependent upon this critical natural resource, special care and proactive measures need to be taken to ensure our water source and infrastructure are protected. Planned modifications at North Fork Reservoir include: raising the dam by 4 feet; improvements to the principal spillway and the addition of an auxiliary spillway; modifications to the raw water piping through the dam and to the water treatment plant; and earth buttressing to reinforce the main dam and saddle dam for seismic stability. The bid for construction services was awarded in October 2017 to the contractor Phillips & Jordan, and construction is set to begin this winter. Once completed, the dam will be able to better withstand inflow from severe storm events, as well as add capacity to the reservoir. The dam, located at the North Fork Reservoir, was originally constructed in 1955 and its design was based on available information and industry standards for that time. In the last decade, advances in technology and data analytics have enabled engineers and scientists to better model and predict certain weather events and environmental conditions. More accurate information is available now than ever before and, due to that, best practices for modeling and simulating certain conditions have greatly improved. This information has allowed the City’s consulting engineers to simulate a variety of possible scenarios for extreme storm events. These models and design parameters are required by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Dam Safety, of all regulated dams. Based on the outcomes of these scenarios, the engineers have identified improvements to help protect the reservoir, the water source, and nearby residents in the event that one of these unlikely but possible events were to occur. Emergency Action Plans The City has had an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place since the 1990s – and updated in 2006 – and has conducted training and “table top exercises” among senior staff within the City and surrounding communities’ emergency responders. Training topics covered what conditions constitute activating the EAP and how emergency responders will receive the information so they can be prepared, should an emergency associated with flooding arise. Timeline August 22, 2016 Public information session at Doubletree Biltmore Village August 23, 2016 Public information session at St. John’s Episcopal Church August 24, 2016 Public information session at Riceville Community Center August 25, 2016 Public information session at Bee Tree Fire Station Community Room Fall 2016 Environmental consultant submits environmental permitting package to US Army Corps of Engineers and NCDEQ Winter 2016 Engineers complete design, submit design package to NC Dam Safety for review March 20, 2017 – Neighborhood Awareness Meeting and Presentation from Meeting Spring – Summer 2017 Respond to agency comments on Environmental and Dam Safety permits and receive approvals as required. Summer 2017 – Bid the construction work for the North Fork Reservoir Spillway and Embankment Improvement Project. October 2017 – Bid contract awarded to Phillips & Jordan November 20, 2017 – Construction update meeting at Black Mountain Public Library – Presentation from Meeting December 2017 – Construction mobilization to begin Winter 2020 – Anticipated completion of construction for the North Fork Reservoir Spillway and Embankment Improvement Project. Early Summer 2020 – Anticipated completion of the project. Supporting Documents Public Meeting Information Frequently Asked Questions – (updated May 02, 2019) Look Back at Asheville’s Historic Flooding Events US Army Corps of Engineers NC Department of Environmental Quality – Dam Safety North Carolina Emergency Action Planning Resources City of Asheville Resource Guide FIMAN FEMA Buncombe County and ready.gov resources: Make a Plan North Carolina Emergency Management North Carolina Risk Management National Weather Service National Weather Service Map Contact Information northforkdam@ashevillenc.gov Updated 08/18/2020 Related Services Learn more about our water, the environment and waste reduction The City of Asheville Water Resources Department has an education program. We offer tours of our water treatment plants, as well as lessons on the environment and water quality. Pay your water bill How to pay your water bill, with convenient online, automatic draft, mail or in person options. Rates and Fees View a list of water consumption charges for various types of activities, as well as information on other water fees. Sewer services Find out about sewerage services provided by Metropolitan Sewerage District (MSD), and how to ask questions and find additional information. Water quality and advisories View the yearly water quality report, current advisories and outages, as well as register to be notified of advisories in your area. Start or stop water service Instructions for starting or stopping water service. Higher than expected bills What to do if you have received a bill that seems too high, which may be a sign of a water leak. Enroll in e-billing Go green with E-Billing for your water utility services. More Related Services North Fork Dam Improvement Project News Asheville Water Resources undertakes multi-year process to identify and eliminate any source of lead from system Posted on June 22, 2021July 23, 2021 by Polly McDaniel In March, the Environmental Protection Agency revised its Lead and Copper Rule that strengthens regulations for eliminating lead from drinking water. The new requirements mandates, among other things, that water utilities nationwide increase tap water testing, and that they create a service line inventory to check for the presence of lead pipes in water systems, [...] Asheville customers asked to conserve water usage Posted on May 26, 2021 by Polly McDaniel Asheville Water Resources continues to make improvements at its water treatment facilities. Current circumstances, combined with hot, dry weather, have produced water demand at a level that will be difficult to sustain. 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Learn more about our water, the environment and waste reduction The City of Asheville Water Resources Department has an education program. We offer tours of our water treatment plants, as well as lessons on the environment and water quality.
Pay your water bill How to pay your water bill, with convenient online, automatic draft, mail or in person options.
Rates and Fees View a list of water consumption charges for various types of activities, as well as information on other water fees.
Sewer services Find out about sewerage services provided by Metropolitan Sewerage District (MSD), and how to ask questions and find additional information.
Water quality and advisories View the yearly water quality report, current advisories and outages, as well as register to be notified of advisories in your area.
Higher than expected bills What to do if you have received a bill that seems too high, which may be a sign of a water leak.
Asheville Water Resources undertakes multi-year process to identify and eliminate any source of lead from system Posted on June 22, 2021July 23, 2021 by Polly McDaniel In March, the Environmental Protection Agency revised its Lead and Copper Rule that strengthens regulations for eliminating lead from drinking water. The new requirements mandates, among other things, that water utilities nationwide increase tap water testing, and that they create a service line inventory to check for the presence of lead pipes in water systems, [...]
Asheville customers asked to conserve water usage Posted on May 26, 2021 by Polly McDaniel Asheville Water Resources continues to make improvements at its water treatment facilities. Current circumstances, combined with hot, dry weather, have produced water demand at a level that will be difficult to sustain. For this reason, the City of Asheville is asking our customers to take voluntary water conservation measures. You can reduce usage the following ways: Stop outdoor [...]
Asheville water rates to rise slightly Posted on May 11, 2021 by Polly McDaniel Asheville water bills went down in the past year following discontinuation of a capital fee on customers’ combined utility statement on July 1, 2020. At the same time, the City of Asheville did not raise water rates last year. With the new Fiscal Year 2021-2022 that begins July 1, Asheville water customers will see a slight [...]