Established landscape plants are beginning to show signs of not having water since late September when an unpresented 15” of rain fell during a short period of time. Equally challenging is the fact that many gardeners and farmers are needing to get cover crops seed in the ground and move forward with other fall gardening activities.

In The City of Asheville, the North Fork Reservoir is being treated with higher than

normal rates of caustic soda, aluminum sulfate and chlorine. These treatments are necessary to help the sediment settle in the reservoir and help produce potable water for the residents using the system. It is not known at this point how long this will take, although we are hopeful this will only be a few weeks before the source becomes potable.

Questions about using the Asheville City water for watering plants have been received by our office. Given the buffering capacity of soil, we are suggesting that watering ornamental plants established in the garden and landscape, in the short term and until city water services resume, is acceptable.

For edible plants in the garden, and those plants growing in potting media or soilless media, especially those that are sentimental, we suggest erring on the side of safety and use potable water only.