Potable water coming to UNC Asheville campus with help from US Army Corps

UNC Asheville is partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deliver potable water to its campus. Restoring safe, drinkable water to UNC Asheville is a critical linchpin in the University's ability to bring students back to campus.

The Army Corps of Engineers from the New Orleans District is installing a mobile water treatment system, which will receive non-potable water from the City of Asheville's water system. The treatment facility will remove sediment, odor, taste and metals to make the water safe for consumption.

"The installation of this water treatment system is a key step in our process of restoring safe, running water to UNC Asheville's campus. I'm optimistic that this project will allow the safe return of our Bulldogs, which has been our top priority," Chancellor Kimberly van Noort said. "We are extremely grateful to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and to our staff who have helped us overcome this challenge."

The mobile water treatment project has the capacity to provide up to 280,000 gallons of potable water to campus daily. The water would be directed toward residential buildings and dining spaces to allow for the safe return of students living on campus.

The team of engineers, led by Col. Cullen Jones, 65th commander and district engineer for the New Orleans District, specializes in providing temporary drinking water to communities after natural disasters. They have been on the ground in Asheville for three weeks, with UNC Asheville being their latest project.

"We've got all the equipment on hand, and our contractors are busily assembling the multi-phase treatment process," Jones said. "We've also had multi-agency level coordination. We've had elements from North Carolina DEQ, EPA, City Water, Metropolitan Sewer District, along with UNC Asheville, and a host of many others to make sure that we are all synchronized as we get this system online to get your 1,600 Bulldogs back in the dorms."

Even when the system is operational, water capacity would remain extremely limited and will not allow for the restoration of potable water in all campus buildings. Work to restore potable water to a limited number of critical academic buildings is ongoing.

Regardless of the status of water on campus, UNC Asheville classes will resume in an online format on Monday, October 28.

The University is not yet able to provide an exact date for water restoration or a return of students to campus. More information will be available pending installation and operation of the mobile treatment system.