### Asheville Water System Faces Major Reconstruction After Hurricane Helene

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Asheville's water system has been severely damaged, leaving tens of thousands without running water for over a week. Officials from Asheville provided an update on the progress of reconstruction efforts, though they emphasized that a significant amount of work remains.

During a news briefing, Asheville's Assistant City Manager Ben Woody described the damage as catastrophic. Newly released drone footage revealed substantial destruction, with large sections of broken pipe visible many feet below ground. These images offer a closer look at the city’s water distribution system along old US 70, showcasing both the extent of the damage and the initial steps taken towards rebuilding the essential infrastructure.

The drone video exposed the enormity of the task at hand, illustrating scenes of broken pipelines and devastated areas. "You can see as we move towards that bridge, look at the level of destruction that exists," Woody commented. "All that has to be rebuilt before we can even think about putting water lines in."

Despite previous reinforcements made to the water system after a storm approximately two decades ago, the facilities could not withstand Helene's might. The hurricane’s intensity and resulting flooding overwhelmed the infrastructure, highlighting the challenges in preparing for such an extreme event.

Regarding the timeline for reconstruction, city and county officials have yet to provide specific details. "We are just over a week from being struck by a severe hurricane," explained Woody, stressing the logistical challenges in determining an exact timeline so soon after the disaster.

This situation was also addressed by Mayor Esther Manheimer, who remarked on the unprecedented nature of the storm's impact. "I'm not an engineer, but I don't know how you can build a system that can withstand a thousand-year flood situation like we just experienced," she stated. "If you had all the money in the world, you probably could, you probably could."

Mayor Manheimer also noted that no issues had been raised with the water system in the past 20 years, attributing this to the system’s previous redundancy and reinforcements.

As Asheville continues to grapple with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, officials remain focused on the long road to recovery, with efforts ongoing to restore water services to the affected community.