Why Are We Under A Boil Water Notice?

The Town of Biltmore Forest purchases all of its water from the City of Asheville. We provide no additional treatment to the water and are only responsible for its distribution to our residents.

Fortunately, the Town of Biltmore Forest distribution system did not sustain any significant damage, but it did lose system pressure after the hurricane like all City of Asheville water system users. This system-wide loss of pressure can cause uncontrolled backflow conditions introducing possible contamination of the system. While our testing did not identify any contamination, it is possible that it occurred.

Additionally, the Bee Tree and North Fork reservoirs (the primary water sources) continue to have extreme amounts of sediment which has forced the City to bypass their water filters resulting in the distribution of unfiltered (non-potable) water to its users. This is a legitimate and serious public health concern necessitating the continuation of the boil water notice.  

While it is true that the City does have another intake and treatment facility on the Mills River that primarily serves the southern portion of the County, there are no guarantees that the Town of Biltmore Forest only receives water from that plant. We continue to perform our required water monitoring tests, which have all passed, but there is an ongoing risk of residents receiving inadequately treated or contaminated drinking water.

This is why all users of City of Asheville water (including Biltmore Forest, as a bulk reseller) remain under a mandatory Boil Water Notice. We anticipate this notice to continue until the City, NCDENR, and the EPA determine the water is safe for consumption and the boil water notice can be lifted.