Water Plan Review and Inspections The Water Resources Department is a delegated authority, Water Line Extension Plan Approval Program (requires Adobe Reader) by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) to review and approve water system extension plans within the City of Asheville Water Resources Department’s service area. The department reviews water line plans when a development requires at least one of the following: A water main extension Fire protection (sprinkler system) Preliminary Plan Review After the Water Availability and Meter Request Application process and the Water Letter of Commitment have been issued, a professional civil engineer is required to design the water line by using the guidelines in City of Asheville Water Resources Design and Construction Manual of the City of Asheville Water Resources Standard Details manual. Once completed, the engineer will submit the following for preliminary plan review: Two Sets of Folded Plans One Set of Data Sheets (Appendix A4 and Appendix A5 ) One Application for Approval of Engineering Plans and Specifications For Water Supply Systems Form One Addendum to Engineer’s Report (sample) Review fee (additional expense if project has pump station or water storage tanks) Hydraulic Calculations Once the submittal is received by the City of Asheville, staff will thoroughly review it to ensure the design meets the city’s criteria. If needed, staff will send the engineer a review comment letter listing items that need to be revised to meet the criteria. If a re-submittal is not required, the engineer will be sent an approval notification and a request to submit final plan for review. Final Plan Review The following is required for final plan submittal: Four Sets of Final Plans (unless otherwise noted) Final Application for Approval of Engineering Plans and Specifications For Water Supply Systems Form (revised if required) One Final Addendum to Engineer’s Report North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Encroachment Application Package other Permits (if applicable) Once the final plan submittal is received, reviewed, and approved, a letter will be sent notifying the engineer of the authorization to construct, along with a summary of the approved project and a copy of the approved plans and application form. The letter will also request that the engineer schedule a pre-construction meeting with city staff. Pre-construction Meeting The purpose of the pre-construction meeting is to discuss with engineer and contractor the scope of the project, its construction, inspection, testing and the close-out procedure. During the meeting, the engineer will be presented with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) Public Water System Authorization to Construct certificate. Please see below for information about the construction, inspection, testing and the close-out procedure. Water Availability Applications (large projects) One of the first steps in the city’s development process is to determine if there is enough water capacity available on the city’s water system at the location of your proposed development. To do so, developers are required to complete and submit the Water Availability Request form and sketch of proposed development with a check for the correct amount made payable to the City of Asheville. The fee is needed to perform the technical review of your request by Water Resources Department. This water availability determination does not apply to all levels of development. Complete the request form if your development requires at least one of the following: Requires a water main extension. Requires fire protection (sprinkler system). Requires a one and one half inch (1 1/2″) or larger diameter water service meter. Requires five or more individual water service taps on an existing water main. If your proposed development does not meet these requirements, please go to Water Availability Application (small projects) of the Water Resources Department for information about obtaining water service. Letter of Commitment for Water Availability Once the Water Resources Department has determined that there is enough water capacity available to meet the needs of proposed development, the developer will be issued a “Letter of Commitment for Water Availability” document. The purpose of the letter is to state the conditions that the Water Resources Department has established for approval of the requested maximum gallons per minute and gallons per day, along with the date that the authorization to construct must be obtained. It also list comments about the proposed development and the technical review of the availability request. Project Construction, Inspection and Testing Water line construction can only be performed by a North Carolina licensed contractor. Once construction begins, construction inspectors will periodically inspect the water line to ensure that the line and its appurtenances are being constructed as designed and as to the Standard Details and Specifications. As construction nears completion, the contractor is required to perform pressure testing under the observation of the inspector. Also, the contractor is required to schedule disinfection testing with the Water Resources Department by contacting the project inspector. Upon construction completion, the developer, engineer and contractor are required to complete the project close-out procedure before a final inspection can be done. Project Close-out Procedure In order to obtain final approval and acceptance of a water line project and to authorize the release for domestic or fire protection service, Water Resources Department’s office needs to receive the following documents: Certificates of Completion Engineer’s Certificate of Completion Contractor’s Certificate of Completion Owner’s Certificate of Completion Recorded Water Line Easement Documents (select document as applies, print on LEGAL-size paper, and submit it to the City of Asheville Development Services Center at 161 S. Charlotte St. Asheville, NC 28801, along with the appropriate Buncombe County Recording Fee made payable to Buncombe County). If these documents are not printed on Legal-size paper, Buncombe County will charge an additional fee. Corporation Easement Document Limited Liability Company Easement Document Individual Easement Document Recorded Easement Plat (see plat requirement checklist) AutoCAD Record/As-built Drawing File on CD-ROM and Sealed Paper Copy (see record/as-built requirement checklist – updated September 2018) List of Subdivision Lot 911 Addresses Back Flow Device Brand and Model Number View the Project Construction and Close-out Procedure flow chart. Resources Close-out Checklist for Completed Projects Engineer’s Certificate of Completion Contractor’s Certificate of Completion Owner’s Certificate of Completion Corporation Easement Document Limited Liability Company Easement Document Individual Easement Document Plat requirement checklist Record/as-built requirement checklist – updated September 2018 Construction Process and Close-out Procedure Appendix A4 Appendix A5 Application for Approval of Engineering Plans and Specifications For Water Supply Systems Form Addendum to Engineer’s Report Sprinkler System Certification Technical Specifications – (Section 02485 updated November 18,2015) Updated 02/26/2020 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 Water Plan Review and Inspections News Asheville extends repayment plan for customers who fell behind in utility payments Posted on January 12, 2021January 29, 2021 by Polly McDaniel Understanding the continuing economic hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Asheville is extending the safeguarding of City utility accounts for all customers from shut-offs due to nonpayment. To be clear: Bills will not be forgiven, but rather customers who fell behind in payments will be offered payment plans to help them catch up [...] Asheville Water Resources to replace water lines in seven areas Posted on November 11, 2020 by Polly McDaniel Asheville Water Resources has identified seven areas for neighborhood water line replacements from late 2020 through 2021. This includes multiple water lines along bustling South Tunnel Road, which will be transferred to a newer larger existing waterline; 950 lineal feet of water line on Brevard Road; and other projects, including two residential areas in Buncombe [...] Asheville City Council clears way for automated water metering system Posted on September 22, 2020 by Polly McDaniel Coming your way in 2021: smart water meters. At their Sept. 22 meeting, Asheville City Council authorized the City Manager to execute an agreement with Cavanaugh and Associates to develop, facilitate and complete the Request for Proposals process for selection of an “advanced metering infrastructure system.” That’s a mouthful but what it means is that the [...] More Water Plan Review and Inspections News
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 extends repayment plan for customers who fell behind in utility payments Posted on January 12, 2021January 29, 2021 by Polly McDaniel Understanding the continuing economic hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Asheville is extending the safeguarding of City utility accounts for all customers from shut-offs due to nonpayment. To be clear: Bills will not be forgiven, but rather customers who fell behind in payments will be offered payment plans to help them catch up [...]
Asheville Water Resources to replace water lines in seven areas Posted on November 11, 2020 by Polly McDaniel Asheville Water Resources has identified seven areas for neighborhood water line replacements from late 2020 through 2021. This includes multiple water lines along bustling South Tunnel Road, which will be transferred to a newer larger existing waterline; 950 lineal feet of water line on Brevard Road; and other projects, including two residential areas in Buncombe [...]
Asheville City Council clears way for automated water metering system Posted on September 22, 2020 by Polly McDaniel Coming your way in 2021: smart water meters. At their Sept. 22 meeting, Asheville City Council authorized the City Manager to execute an agreement with Cavanaugh and Associates to develop, facilitate and complete the Request for Proposals process for selection of an “advanced metering infrastructure system.” That’s a mouthful but what it means is that the [...]