The Evolution of the City of Asheville Water System. Presented by Leslie Carreiro and Bill Hart

Transcription

1 The Evolution of the City of Asheville Water System Presented by Leslie Carreiro and Bill Hart

2 First City of Asheville Water System Asheville Water System Prior to 1883 Beaucatcher Reservoir -5 Million Gallon Capacity. Water Distribution Water Provided through pipe made of wooden logs. Watering Points water supply to public from watering stations. City Wells water also provided by city installed wells.

3 Water System Improvements Development of a filtration plant on the Swannanoa River. Waters from this plant were pumped to the improved concrete lined Beucatcher Reservoir and then distributed to the public. In Howells, Historical Account of Public Water Supplies, Howells references a marked decrease in typhoid and other enteric diseases in Asheville after the introduction of filtered water. *The early filtration plant on the Swannanoa river is abandoned in 1903, due to poor quality of water and public discontent.

4 Buncombe County, NC

5 Water System Improvements In 1900, Asheville began to seek a quality water source for the city, and began purchasing land on the North Fork of the Swannanoa River. The first purchases totaled approximately 10,000 acres. To provide a quality water source, the City of Asheville constructed a small dam on the Right Fork of the Swannanoa River and laid a 16 cast iron line that was connected to a 300,000 gallon steel storage tank on Beaucatcher Mountain. This was completed by 1903.

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8 Water System Improvements In 1910, drought and seasonal shortages of water necessitated the construction of a small channel to bring water from Long Branch and the Left Fork of the Swannanoa River to the existing Right Fork intake. Between , the city experienced periods of water shortage. To augment the water supply, the city purchased property on the headwaters of Bee Tree Creek. During a 5 year period work was undertaken to clean the watershed, construct a small dam and intake, and lay a new 16 water line to a new 5 million gallon storage tank on Beaucatcher Mountain.

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10 Water Distribution and Sewage Systems In the late 1920 s growth in Buncombe County necessitated the expansion of water distribution systems and sewer systems. Availability of these services led to industrialization and greater demand on the water system. Additional land was purchased and or condemned adjacent the existing the North Fork watershed.

11 Water System Improvements In 1924, the City of Asheville begins construction on the Bee Tree Dam. The dam is planned to impound the waters of Bee Tree Creek and to provide the quality and reliability that was needed for public water supply. Population at this time was 35,000. In 1925, Asheville suffered a severe drought that led to water shortages. Because of ongoing drought and water shortages, the city constructed a 2 million gallon per day, filtration plant on the grounds of the Biltmore Estate in This plant was constructed in 52 days, and provided water from the French Broad River until the Bee Tree Reservoir was completed.

12 French Broad Filter Plant Raw water pump station and intake 1 mixing tank, 21,000 gallons 4 subsidence tanks, 85,000 gallons each 4 filters, 500,000 gallon/day capacity 1 clear water tank, 50,000 gallon capacity 1 wash tank, 45,000 gallons High Service pumping system and 26,000 feet of 12 inch pipeline to connect to the city distribution system

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16 Completion of Bee Tree Dam In 1927, the Bee Tree Dam was completed at a cost of $2.5 million dollars. A new 24 water line was laid to the city and became part of the 500 mile long distribution system that included the city and county. The Bee Tree Reservoir provided a new storage capacity of 500 million gallons. This reservoir provided the city a combined capacity of 10 million gallons per day.

17 Water System Improvements In 1934, the original 16 line from Bee Tree intake was re-used and laid to a new intake on the Left Fork of the Swannanoa River. During this same year, ammonia treatment was introduced at North Fork and Bee Tree for the disinfection of water. In 1939, an 8 line was laid to an intake on Sugar Fork. Total available supply in a dry year at this time was 9.3 million gallons per day.

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20 Water System Improvements In 1948, the average demand had reached 10.4 million per day. The estimated city population was 64,400, and the estimated county population was 127,000. At this point the water system was at capacity and demand was increasing rapidly. *Planning had been initiated in 1920, to develop adequate water resources for the ever growing population and future expected growth.

21 Water System Improvements In 1951, Construction began on the Burnett Dam and Reservoir. In 1955, the dam was completed and the reservoir filled. The resulting reservoir was completed at a cost of $2.5 million, had 5.7 billion gallons of water storage capacity, and increased water security for the Asheville/Buncombe County area. Provided water to the distribution system through 2, 16 inch lines, and a 24 inch line. Bee Tree and North Fork Water Treatment Plants treated their respective waters without filtration.

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26 Water System Improvements In 1960, the city began to plan for increased capacity from the North Fork Water Treatment Plant by adding a 36 inch water line. In 1961, bonds were issued to fund this improvements. In 1963, construction on this 36 pipeline was completed. As a result Bee Tree Water treatment Plant was retired. And converted to recreational facility. In 1967, the city holds referendum and begins fluoridation.

27 Water System Improvements In 1976, Construction begins on the new North Fork WTP. Filtration is added to the North Fork Water Treatment Plant. Four filters are added giving the North Fork WTP a production capacity of 25 MGD. In 1985, the decision is made to discontinue use of the Bee Tree Reservoir for recreation, and to resume water production. As a result, the city builds a new plant complete with 2 filters for a production capacity of 5 MGD. In 1992, plant upgrades at the North Fork WTP add 2 additional filters and bring the production capacity to 31 MGD.

28 Water System Improvements Mid 1990s, the city begins to purchase land and plan for the construction of a new treatment plant on the Mills River in Henderson County. In 1999, the Mills River WTP is completed and begins treating water from the Mills River. In 1999, Bee Tree WTP is once again retired to conduct renovations on the existing spillway. In 2008, Bee Tree WTP is returned to service to provide extra capacity in the city water system.

29 City of Asheville Water Department The City of Asheville Water Resource Department is composed of 6 Divisions, that employee a workforce of 149 positions. The divisions are as follows; Customer Service Meter Services Water Administration Water Engineering Water Maintenance Water Production

30 City of Asheville Water System Water Resource has 58,198 service connections within the City of Asheville and Buncombe County. The City of Asheville water system is a class A system that is permitted to serve a population of 124,300. The water system serves an area of 183 square miles, and has 1,681 miles of water line, 32 water storage tanks, 37 pumping stations and 3 water treatment facilities, with a capacity to produce and deliver, 43.5 million gallons of water per day.

31 Water Production Division The 3 City of Asheville treatment facilities are; Mills River WTP North Fork WTP William DeBruhl WTP

32 Mills River WTP Mills River WTP is a conventional treatment facility that uses ozination, sedimentation and filtration through Granular Activated Carbon filters, to treat water from the Mills River. The Mills River watershed covers approximately 47,440 acres in Henderson and Transylvania Counties. The majority of this watershed is located within the Pisgah National Forest, and provides very high quality water for treatment.

33 Mills River WTP Mills River WTP

34 Mills River WTP

35 Mills River WTP

36 North Fork and William DeBruhl WTP North Fork and William DeBruhl WTP use direct filtration to treat water from pristine reservoirs, surrounded by 20,000 acres of limited access watershed. William DeBruhl WTP draws water from the 500 million gallon capacity, Bee Tree Reservoir. North Fork WTP draws water from the 5.75 billion gallon capacity, Burnett Reservoir.

37 North Fork WTP North Fork WTP

38 North Fork WTP

39 Burnett Reservoir

40 Burnett Reservoir

41 Bee Tree WTP Bee Tree WTP

42 William DeBruhl WTP

43 Bee Tree Reservoir

44 Bee Tree Reservoir