Residents report persistent low water pressure near Camp Branch after Hurricane Helene; council asks staff to investigate

Residents at the meeting described ongoing low water pressure and related infrastructure problems on Camp Branch and neighboring lines following Hurricane Helene, prompting the Town Council to direct staff to investigate.

John Collins, a Camp Branch resident, told the council his property at 82 Camp Branch Road has “been without adequate water pressure since Hurricane Helene,” and that static pressure readings are “4 to 7 PSI” and drop to “3 to 0 PSI” under load. Gary Bartlett, who said he has served the town’s fire service for many years, told the council it took “54 days to get water” restored after the storm and that intermittent pressures now range from about 4 to 10 PSI. Bartlett said the state Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) requires 30 PSI “all over the system,” and that the town has a local policy to provide 20 PSI for customers above 2,550 feet elevation with the expectation that customers install boosters.

Retired water-system professional Mark White corroborated that the pressure drop is systemwide on the south tank feed and suggested the issue could be a malfunctioning booster, add-air tank or altitude valve at the south tank. White urged attention to system survey data and to recent infrastructure damage.

Commenters described operational harms from low pressure—damage to pumps, holding tanks and appliances—and said some properties remain off the town system or on temporary hookups. John Collins said he has paid property taxes for years and expressed frustration that new developments at higher elevations are being provided water while his lots remain without adequate service.

In response, Mayor Michael Sogel told residents, “We will look into this. Feel certain that Josh will get on this and will then let the board know something.” Town staff acknowledged ongoing investigations and noted some system elements (consumer confidence reporting, local watershed plan) remain incomplete and under review.

Council did not adopt a new ordinance or funding authorization at the meeting. Instead the council directed staff to investigate the causes of the pressure loss, report findings and propose corrective steps. That direction was recorded as a staff follow-up rather than a formal motion with a recorded roll-call vote.

Speakers stressed two related points: technical causes require engineering diagnosis (leaks, pump/valve failure, air cavitation), and recovery work since Hurricane Helene has left some system components degraded. Residents asked the council to prioritize water reliability as the town continues storm-recovery and infrastructure repair work.