Responding to the Devastation Behind Hurricane Helene

The North Carolina Ground Water Association, Water Well Trust, Water Systems Council, Ferguson’s Well & Pump, and a group of local Western North Carolina (WNC) water well drillers announce the creation of the WNC Water Well Fund, a rapid response program designed to help alleviate the immediate water access needs of the residents of Buncombe County and surrounding areas in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

Monetary contributions can be made to the Water Well Trust (WWT), a North Carolina non-profit 501(c)3 organization to be used in addition to federal grants, for various water projects located throughout the affected region.  Contributions will support the many well systems needed at an average expense of $25,000 each. To request funding for your water project and notify the WNC Water Well Fund of your water service needs, or to get answers to well-related questions, call the wellcare® Hotline at 888-395-1033.

Project approvals will be prioritized with high-impact locations serving large populations such as community distribution points being classified as Tier 1 – Critical Infrastructure. As the program moves forward, Tier 2 will include Transient/Non-Transient Water Supplies where permanent, stable, entities such as businesses and non-community water systems are addressed. Tier 3 opens the program funding to aid in personal residences and individual use water supplies.