Black Mountain makes major announcements on water and sanitation services
Public meeting brings good news from town officials
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
October 17, 2024
Black Mountain Town Manager Josh Harrold announces, Oct. 17, that the town will resume sanitation services on Oct. 21. Photo by Fred McCormick
Cheers erupted from Black Mountain Town Square, Oct. 17, as town officials made a pair of major announcements regarding water and sanitation services, which have been down since Tropical Storm Helene devasted the region 20 days ago.
The Town of Black Mountain will resume regular trash and recycling collection services, Monday, Oct. 21, while water customers are now under a boil water notice. The developments address two key public concerns in the three weeks since the natural disaster.
Dozens of municipalities were left without critical public services due to severe flooding that claimed at least 95 lives and left a reported 81 missing. The storm left thousands of Western N.C. residents without power or water for weeks.
The damage to Black Mountain’s water infrastructure was significant, as public works crews successfully reconnected to the supply at the North Fork Reservoir, Oct. 10, while turbidity in the 326-acre body of water only allowed residents to use the water for flushing toilets.
“As of tonight, we are going to be under a boil water notice,” Town Manager Josh Harrold announced to the crowd gathered in the center of downtown. “Which means, when you leave here, you can go home and boil your water vigorously for one minute, and drink it if you want to. You can shower and wash clothes in it.”
Black Mountain Mayor Mike Sobol greets residents in Town Square, Oct. 17, as officials announce the return of some water and sanitation services. Photo by Fred McCormick
The notice is due to a loss of pressure in the distribution system and sediment in the reservoir, according to a press release issued after the meeting.
“A boil water notice means there is contamination due to impacts from Helene, including potential for untreated water in the distribution system from pipe breaks and (a) level of turbidity that exceeds Safe Drinking Water Act Standards, initially used to restore water pressure,” the notice stated.
Customers who live in town but purchase water through the City of Asheville are on a boil water notice, as well, the neighboring municipality announced, Oct. 16.
Harrold also announced sanitation services would return next week. Town residents have been depositing household trash in public dumpsters at multiple locations since flooding damaged the municipality’s fleet of vehicles.
“We have worked, day in and day out, to make this happen,” Harrold said. “I told you all in the beginning, we were going to get better each day. We’ve done that, and we’re going to continue to do that.”
The town will not collect bulk items or debris, Harrold added.
“We’re working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to do that for us,” he said. “We cannot afford to do that, as a town, so they’re going to do it for us. We got confirmation that they are coming to Black Mountain to do this for us.”
There is no timeframe associated with the effort, he continued, but the town will notify the public when one is set.
Residents gather in Black Mountain Town Square, Oct. 17, as local officials provide updates on Helene recovery efforts. Photo by Fred McCormick
The town will continue to enforce its 9 p.m. curfew until at least Oct. 21, Black Mountain Police Chief Steve Parker announced.
“It will be my recommendation to council to lift that on Monday, but I feel pretty strongly that we want people to still return to their homes and protect their homes, that’s important to me,” he said. “Of course you can go to and from work, or if you have somewhere to go, but we’re asking you not to walk around because it’s still not completely safe.”
The town will be unable to assist with the normally crowded neighborhood along Church Street on Halloween this year, according to Parker.
“That’s not our recommendation this year,” he said. “We don’t have the staff, the ability to block the roads and there are homes damaged and (power) lines down in the neighborhood.”
Officials encourage residents to participate in a town-sponsored event in town square.
“We’re going to make sure it’s great,” Parker said.
The event will allow the community to celebrate as it continues to recover from the storm, according to Mayor Mike Sobol.
“We want to get the local businesses involved, and I’ve talked to Melinda (Hester) at the Chamber of Commerce, and I think we need to have a big celebration in two weeks,” he said. “I hope all of you will come down, smile at someone and get a handful of candy for the kids.”