The temporary water pretreatment systems installed by the US Army Corps of Engineers after Helene will be disassembled after Sunday, Nov. 30, the end of hurricane season. FEMA has been fielding operating costs of $6 million per month as city officials plan to put a permanent pretreatment system in place. Preconstruction planning and design is underway, but the build could take up to five years and come with a $150+ million price tag.
The filtration systems are designed to treat especially turbid water, adding an extra layer of protection to the municipal water supply. “The systems serve as a redundancy,” according to the city, although the reservoirs are vulnerable to future weather events. The water remains safe to drink without the pretreatment systems.
Debris removal has begun at North Fork and will continue for a few months. It will follow at DeBruhl as well although a timeline hasn’t been set.
