The City of Asheville’s Water Resources Department continues to deliver water that meets or exceeds federal water quality regulations, and an annual report currently being delivered to water customers displays the results of water quality testing.
Each year, the City of Asheville distributes its annual water quality report in water customers’ bills and posts it to the City of Asheville website. The report, mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency, presents the types and concentrations of substances found in samples taken from both the water plant and locations throughout the service area. That level of transparency is especially valuable considering the importance of water quality to the community. The 2013 report going out during March and April shows that Asheville’s water supply is cleaner in all categories than required by EPA standards.
“We are always proud to share the water quality report with the community. We are fortunate to have Asheville’s pristine water resources as well as the employees who work hard to ensure that our customers receive excellent water quality every day,” said Stephen Shoaf, Director of the Water Resources Department.
The City of Asheville Water Resources Department operates three water treatment plants, 37 pump stations, and 32 reservoirs, and protects and manages a 22,000 acre watershed. The North Fork water treatment facility processes an average of 15 million gallons of water a day, while the Mills River and William DeBruhl plants produce about 3 million gallons a day. System wide, the City of Asheville Water Resources facilities process 20.5 gallons of water per day and service more than 123,000 customers.
The City of Asheville’s water quality is closely monitored on a daily basis by laboratory technicians who collect and analyze water both at the plant facilities and throughout the distribution system. Lab technicians collect roughly 120 samples per month from sample sites throughout Asheville and areas served by City of Asheville water. Asheville has a large distribution system, therefore Water Resources staff regularly monitor, sample and flush portions of the system to ensure high quality drinking water.
Each plant routinely analyzes the raw and finished water for temperature, turbidity, pH, chlorine, total and fecal coliform bacteria. Routine distribution sampling and analysis consists of: pH, alkalinity, temperature, chlorine, total and fecal coliforms. The EPA requires the analysis of various other constituents and all of those results were below limits set by the EPA.
This informative report provides details about the quality of the water provided to the city’s customers as well as the water sources and how it is treated. Customers can find the report in their next water bills or see it online here, and may expect an update of this report each year.
For further information or additional copies of the City of Asheville’s 2013 Annual Water Quality Report, call the City of Asheville Customer Services Division at (828) 251-1122.