Tuesday, millions of gallons — some reports say about 7 million, in fact — of wastewater spilled into the French Broad River, according to news reports.


Last summer, Carolina Public Press began producing a special report on the French Broad River, with particular focus on the threats facing water quality in the basin, which includes Buncombe, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania counties. Our reports include everything from data on 18 months of water-quality violations to recent legal action pushing for more answers to concerns about coal ash ponds located close to the river in Buncombe County.
We launched with our reporters and editors analyzing 18 months of data to find where the primary water-quality permit violations were in the basin, which are available here.
As we continue our reporting on the basin — and this most recent incident — you can read more from our ongoing special report, which began in July. Among the reports, you’ll find:
Data: Water quality permit violations in the French Broad River basin
French Broad River healthier but pollution continues