Asheville Struggles Without Water After Hurricane Helene’s Devastation

Nearly a week after Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina, residents in Asheville are struggling to secure basic necessities like drinking water. A shiny stainless steel tanker truck parked in downtown Asheville has become a lifeline, drawing residents with various containers—5-gallon jugs, milk bottles, and buckets—hoping to collect what has become a precious resource.

Water System in Ruins

The storm’s destructive flooding has crippled Asheville’s water system. Repairs could take weeks, leaving families like Anna Ramsey’s without power or water. “We have no water. We have no power. But I think it’s also been humbling,” Ramsey said as her children carried home just 2 gallons of water.

Helene’s path through the Southeast left over 200 people dead and hundreds still unaccounted for, making it the deadliest hurricane to hit the U.S. mainland since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Entire communities remain cut off from basic services, with large swaths of the region visible from space due to widespread power outages.

A Crisis of Unprecedented Scale

Federal officials have described the impact on water utilities as “unprecedented.” As of Thursday, about 136,000 people were without access to operational water systems, and more than 1.8 million are living under boil water advisories, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Western North Carolina has been particularly hard hit. The Blue Ridge Mountains’ steep, narrow valleys—normally a tourist attraction in the fall—have now made recovery efforts even more difficult. “The challenges of the geography are just fewer roads, fewer access points, fewer areas of flat ground to stage resources,” said Brian Smith, acting deputy division director for the EPA’s Southeast water division.

The Strain of No Water

With water outages ongoing, residents are feeling the strain. “I would love a shower,” said Sue Riles, a local resident in Asheville. “Running water would be incredible.”

Asheville’s water system was hit hard, with floodwaters destroying pipes that bring water from a large reservoir in the mountains. Another reservoir was also knocked offline, requiring a new access road to be built for repairs. While some water flow has been restored in parts of southern Asheville, the city remains far from full recovery.

A Growing Health Crisis

Sanitation issues are becoming a growing concern. With running water scarce, even non-potable water is hard to come by. Residents are being advised to collect water from swimming pools for household use. “One thing no one is talking about is the amount of waste sitting in every toilet in Asheville,” said Drew Reisinger, Buncombe County register of deeds. “We’re dealing with a public health emergency.”

Boil water advisories are in effect for many areas that have access to water, but Natalie Exum, an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, warns that mistakes during the boiling process could lead to illness. “Every day that goes by, you could be exposed to a pathogen,” Exum said, emphasizing the importance of clean water to prevent sickness.

Ongoing Rescue and Repair Efforts

Despite some improvements, about 62% of homes and businesses in North Carolina still lack power. Utility crews are working around the clock, with about 8,000 workers deployed across the state. Yet in some areas, basic tasks like assessing damage to water pipes remain challenging due to crumbled roads and debris-filled neighborhoods.

Ruptured pipes are a significant problem, according to Mark White, an expert at the engineering firm CDM Smith. “Pretty much anytime you see a major road damaged, there’s a very good chance that there’s a pipe in there that’s also gotten damaged,” White explained. Repair efforts typically start at treatment plants and work outward.

The Human Toll

For those working on repairs and rescue operations, the emotional toll is heavy. Kevin Morley, federal relations manager at the American Water Works Association, noted the psychological strain. “You’re seeing people’s lives just wiped out,” he said. The challenge is not only logistical but deeply personal for many involved.

Even private well owners are not immune. Many wells lost power, and floodwaters may have contaminated others, creating further challenges for residents relying on these systems.

Looking Ahead: Infrastructure and Climate Concerns

The widespread damage from Hurricane Helene has renewed calls for stronger infrastructure. Craig Colten, a retired professor from Louisiana who focused on extreme weather resilience, now living in Asheville, stressed the need for investment in storm-proof infrastructure. “There’s often blind faith that drinking water won’t fail, but it did,” he said, hoping that this disaster prompts policymakers to take action.

Erik Olson, a health expert from the Natural Resources Defense Council, agreed, warning that climate change will likely lead to more frequent and severe storms. “States and the federal government need to prepare for extreme weather events that will occur regularly,” Olson said.

Small Steps Toward Normalcy

Some residents are adapting as best they can. Travis Edwards, an Asheville local, developed a water-saving system for his household. “I soap the dishes, then use a trickle of water with bleach to rinse, and save that for the toilet,” Edwards explained. Power and some cell service have returned to his neighborhood, allowing him to begin reconnecting with friends.

“To not feel guilty about using more than a cup of water to, like, wash yourself … I’m really, really grateful,” Edwards said.