BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. — Sunday marked one month since Helene wreaked havoc on the western part of The Tar Heel State, but as time continues, so does recovery.
That’s the case at the University of North Carolina Asheville where work is underway to get safe, potable water to the campus, and on Monday, students were able to return to virtual classrooms.
After weeks of cancellations, students at UNCA finally returned to classes, though the classes are in an online format. Chancellor Kimberly Van Noort says virtual learning may not be ideal, but it’s another step forward in the campus’s recovery after Helene.
“This is not a great situation, we know that,” Van Noort said. “But our students and faculty are really excited to be back together.”
That’s not the only step the university is taking. Students will return to campus housing starting Wednesday, sporting events are also expected to continue in the near future and soon, the university will have potable water.
“We’ve been working on this for a little over three weeks to a month,” Van Noort said. “And finally, as you can see behind me, things are coming to fruition.”
The United States Army Corps of Engineers, which has been working on multiple relief efforts after Helene, is installing a temporary water treatment plant that will take non-potable water from the City of Asheville’s water system and send it through a series of filtration techniques to make it safe for consumption on campus.
Colonel Cullen Jones, who has worked on numerous projects of this nature, explained the process.
“We’re gonna go through various levels of treatment to remove sediment or turbidity from the water,” Jones said. “And then eventually retreat it with some chlorine, make sure it has the right minerals and then we’re sort of pushing it through the distribution network within the UNCA complex.”
Jones and his team specialize in providing safe drinking water after disasters like Helene, and he knows what it will mean to the community to have access to safe drinking water.
“Water is life,” Jones said. “If you think about everything that’s involved, that’s required for our health, life and safety, water is a critical component of that.”
Van Noort says this temporary treatment plan is not only a critical step in returning students to campus, but a sign of hope for a hurting community.
“This is a recovery period for us and for this entire region,” Van Noort said. “And every bit of progress we make makes us all feel like the future is bright. We’re looking forward to a great homecoming for everybody to be able to come back here to their bulldog home.”
UNCA’s fall commencement will still take place as scheduled on Dec. 13, and Van Noort says she’s hoping for a full return to in-person learning come January.