There was a sense of relief in the city, though some residents said they were still afraid to drink the water.

After nearly two months without clean drinking water, Asheville residents can now resume drinking from their taps. The City of Asheville has lifted its boil-water notice after tests performed over the weekend came back clear of E. coli.

Residents of North Carolina’s most populous mountain city are no longer under a boil water notice, Asheville officials announced on Monday. Extensive rain and flooding from Hurricane Helene on seven-plus weeks ago severely damaged a bypass line at the North Fork Reservoir,

Asheville, North Carolina, residents could have a boil water notice lifted as soon as Tuesday, more than seven weeks after Hurricane Helene struck on September 27.

Asheville residents were told Monday that the water is safe to drink again nearly two months after Helene damaged both water systems that serve the city. As winter approaches, western North Carolina residents are also concerned about fuel shortages needed to heat homes.

Asheville residents were told Monday that the water is safe to drink again nearly two months after Hurricane Helene caused flooding and damaged the water system.