Dirty Asheville Water Warns of Climate Risk to US Infrastructure

Hurricanes Helene and Milton devastated swaths of the southeastern US by bringing too much water. Now, communities are struggling with the opposite problem: too little of it.

The North Fork Water Treatment Plant supplies most of the drinking water to Asheville, North Carolina, and some surrounding mountain towns. Built in the 1970s, it was known for its clear water, which flows into the plant from a large reservoir.

The North Fork Reservoir in Black Mountain, North Carolina, on Oct. 4. The reservoir feeds a treatment plant that supplies drinking water to Asheville and nearby towns.

Michael Smith/Bloomberg News

Then Hurricane Helene barreled in late last month, dumping almost 14 inches of rain.

Engineers at the plant saw that water was rushing out of the facility at more than double the normal ...