City of Hendersonville Dials Back Water Shortage Alert - Customers Still Encouraged to Voluntarily Conserve Water
The Water Shortage Alert issued on October 5, 2023, has been downgraded to a Water Shortage Advisory following weekend rain and improvement in the Mills River water levels. Water users are still encouraged to voluntarily conserve water due to the ongoing drought conditions.
“Even though we received some much-needed rainfall over the weekend, portions of our region are still experiencing drought,” said City of Hendersonville Utilities Director Adam Steurer. “We will likely need several substantial rain events to get us back to normal. Out of precaution we are continuing to encourage our customers and water users to take voluntary conservation measures.” Steurer explained that Hendersonville’s utility team and water treatment facility staff will continue to monitor water levels and follow the Water Shortage Response Plan.
The Stage I Water Shortage Advisory consists of voluntary measures including, but not limited to:
- Limit lawn and garden watering to that which is necessary for plants to survive;
- Do not wash down outside areas such as sidewalks, patios, parking lots, service bays, aprons, etc.;
- Limit car washing to a minimum;
- Water shrubbery to the minimum required, reusing household water when possible;
- Do not leave faucets running while shaving, brushing teeth, or rinsing dishes;
- Limit flushing of toilets by multiple usage;
- Limit use of clothes washers and dishwashers, and when used, operate fully loaded;
- Take showers rather than bathing and limit the duration of showers;
- The use of disposable and biodegradable dishes is encouraged;
- The use of flow-restrictive and water-saving devices is encouraged;
- Limit hours of operation of water-cooled air conditioners;
- All residents, businesses, and institutions are requested to temporarily delay new landscape work until the water shortage has ended.
“Hendersonville is blessed with pristine water sources, but no utility system is immune to periods of dry weather,” said Adam Steurer. “We appreciate the conservation steps taken by our customers over the past couple months and encourage them to continue to be mindful of their water usage.”
Although the short-term forecast still shows lower-than-normal rainfall, the National Weather Service’s long-range prediction model shows improvement in precipitation for the region. This forecast combined with the improvement of the Mills River flow levels prompted the utility to retain water conservation measures for its customers but downgrade the alert to an advisory.
"Our Utility is currently constructing an additional water intake on the French Broad River,” said Utilities Director Adam Steurer. “This project will add a fourth water source and help the system to become more resistant to drought.” The French Broad River intake and pumping station is expected to be completed next summer. Hendersonville City Council and utility leaders have been working toward this $23.5 million dollar project for a number of years to enhance the resiliency of the utility system and lay the foundation for the future.
More information on the Water Shortage Advisory can be accessed at
www.hvlnc.gov/watershortage.
