Water Alerts
Hurricane Helene Update:
As of Saturday 10/12/2024, 100% of the City’s water system has been sampled and confirmed as safe to drink from damage caused by Hurricane Helene. Some areas may be operating at a less-than-normal water pressure. The City of Hendersonville is aware of this and is working diligently to restore water pressures to that of pre-Helene condition. For updates, including System Pressure Advisories not related to Helene, please refer to the City’s water alerts page by visiting www.hvlnc.gov/wateralerts.
The Hendersonville Water Department encourages residents to continue practicing mindful water use where possible. Ongoing conservation helps ensure that the utility can remain resilient and extend assistance to neighboring communities in need.
A System Pressure Advisory is a public notification informing water customers to boil their tap water before using it for drinking purposes. Advisories are issued in response to an event that could allow contaminants to enter the water distribution system. Events like scheduled water line maintenance, water main breaks, loss of system pressure,
We issue a System Pressure Advisory when water contamination is possible. In an advisory, we recommend that affected customers boil water before consumption or use bottled water.
Preguntas Frecuentes Sobre el Aviso de Presión del Sistema
Instrucciones Después de la Rescisión de un Aviso de Presión del Sistema
Questions may be directed to Hendersonville Water & Sewer at (828) 697-3073 Monday-Friday 9am-5pm. Issues occurring outside of regular business hours can be reported to the after-hours number at (828) 891-7779.
Restaurant and Business informational resources are available on the NCDHHS website.
System Pressure Advisories were labeled as Boil Water Advisories prior to March 6, 2024, after which the utility updated the name in accordance with recommendations from the NC Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ).
During a System Pressure Advisory:
Boil Water For: Drinking, Brushing Teeth, Washing Fruits & Veggies, Preparing Food, Mixing Baby Formula, Making Ice, Giving Water to Pets, Coffee Makers, Dish Washing by Hand (make sure to rinse with bottled or boiled water)
Use Caution: Water filters in most kitchens and households DO NOT remove bacteria or viruses
Use Caution: Bathing babies and young children (give sponge bath and use water that has been boiled and cooled)
Do Not Need to Boil Water For: Washing Clothes in the Washing Machine, Taking Showers (adults and older children), Flushing Toilets, Washing Cars, Household Cleaning
How will I be notified if I am affected by a System Pressure Advisory?
Hendersonville Water & Sewer will notify customers using our notification system. The phone numbers and email addresses in the system are generated from the information customers provided when they enrolled in water service. It is important that customers provide current contact information to receive notifications. If you need to update your phone number or email address, please call Customer Service at (828) 697-3052 Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm or email at customerservice@hvlnc.gov.
What should I do during a System Pressure Advisory?
Tap water should be boiled vigorously for at least one full minute prior to using. Timing should begin when the water begins to bubble. Water should be boiled for the following uses: drinking, cooking, ice making, washing dishes, brushing teeth, preparing food or drinks and watering animals. Wait for the water to cool before using or store in the refrigerator in a clean container. Do not use water from any appliance connected to your water lines. Boiling removes any harmful bacteria that could be present in the water.
Is the water safe for bathing and laundering clothes?
The water is safe for bathing and laundering clothes because bacteria that could be present are only harmful if swallowed. Use caution when bathing a toddler or baby. Consider giving them a quick rinse at the sink or a sponge bath since they can easily swallow bath water.
How should I wash dishes during a System Pressure Advisory?
Household dishwashers are generally safe to use if the final rinse temperature reaches 150 degrees or the dishwasher has a sanitation cycle. To hand wash dishes, use hot soapy water (you may add one tablespoon of bleach per gallon as a precaution) and rinse the dishes in boiled water.
What if I drank some of the water before I found out about the advisory?
This advisory was issued as a precaution, so your risk of getting sick is very low. However, if you begin to have a fever, diarrhea, or nausea you should seek medical attention.
How long must a System Pressure Advisory remain in effect?
An advisory will remain in effect until the water line is repaired and bacteriological sample results have determined the water is safe to drink. Typically, there is a minimum of 24 to 48 hours from the time of the repair. Sometimes high levels of turbidity (which is a measure of cloudiness or haziness) in water can delay the sampling and testing process.
How will I know if the advisory has been lifted?
Hendersonville Water and Sewer will lift the System Pressure Advisory when the results from the testing have confirmed the water is safe to drink. You will receive a notification in the same manner that you received the advisory.
What should I do after a System Pressure Advisory?
Customers are advised to "flush" their water lines following the lifting of a System Pressure Advisory in order to clear plumbing of potentially contaminated water. Flushing your household and building water lines includes interior and exterior faucets, showers, water and ice dispensers, water treatment units, etc. Please use the following guidance:
Cold Water Faucets:
Before using the water line for drinking, brushing teeth, making ice cubes, food preparation etc., make sure it is clear from any forms of particulate matter and air (milky coloration). Turn on the cold water tap and let it run until water becomes clear. You should also open all cold-water lines such as fountains, showers and outside water spigots and run them for five to ten minutes.
Hot Water Faucets:
To clear hot-water pipes and water heater, flush the hot water line for a minimum of 15 minutes for a typical household 40-gallon hot-water tank, 30 minutes for an 80-gallon hot water tank or larger. Hot water should be clear of sediment and air before using to wash hands and for hand-washing of dishes, pots and pans, etc.
Dishwashers:
After flushing hot water pipes and water heater, run dishwasher empty one time.
Coffee Makers, Food Dispensers and Beverage Machines:
Flush equipment like food dispensers and beverage machines with clean water and follow the instruction manual on how to disinfect or clean the machine.
Water Treatment Device:
Replace water filters, water cartridges, faucet screens and aerators on all taps used as water treatment and filtration devices, in accordance with manufacturer recommendations. When in doubt, it is always best to clean, sanitize and disinfect any of these devices before using water again.
Humidifiers:
Discard any water used in humidifiers, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), oral, medical, or health care devices, and rinse the device with clean water, in accordance with manufacturer recommendations.
Refrigerator Water-Dispensing Machine:
Water dispensers from refrigerators should be flushed with at least one quart of water. If unsure of your dispenser's capacity, refer to manufacturer specifications.
Ice Cubes:
Automatic ice dispensers should be emptied of ice made during the boil water advisory and run through a 24-hour cycle, discarding the ice to assure purging of the icemaker water supply line.