Asheville residents were told Monday that the water is safe to drink again nearly two months after Helene damaged both water systems that serve the city. As winter approaches, western North Carolina residents are also concerned about fuel shortages needed to heat homes.

Asheville, North Carolina, residents now have safe drinking water after a boil notice was lifted Monday, more than seven weeks after Tropical Storm Helene struck on September 27.

Residents of North Carolina’s most populous mountain city are no longer under a boil water notice, Asheville officials announced on Monday. Extensive rain and flooding from Hurricane Helene on seven-plus weeks ago severely damaged a bypass line at the North Fork Reservoir,

Asheville residents were told Monday that the water is safe to drink again nearly two months after Hurricane Helene caused flooding and damaged the water system.

After a 53-day water crisis, clean water runs through Asheville’s taps once more. Asheville lifted its boil water notice this morning, city spokesperson Clay Chandler shared this morning at a press briefing.

The water in Asheville is officially safe again. Buncombe County Government officials confirmed the boil water advisory in Asheville has been lifted 53 days after Hurricane Helene. Asheville Water Resources Public Information Officer Clay Chandler stated in an update briefing Monday morning that the advisory has been lifted following a sample process that occurred over the weekend.