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Hendersonville Today
By the People, for the People
Hendersonville Adds New French Broad River Water Intake
New pumping station to boost drought resilience and meet growing demand
Published on Feb. 18, 2026
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The city of Hendersonville, North Carolina has completed construction on a new water intake and pumping station on the French Broad River, adding to its existing water sources. The $23.5 million project, financed through a low-interest state loan, will provide greater capacity and flexibility to respond to droughts that have forced the city to enact water use restrictions in recent years. The new intake can pump up to 15 million gallons per day, helping meet the demands of the city's growing population of 80,000 residents.
Why it matters
Hendersonville's previous water sources, including mountain streams and the nearby Mills River, have proven vulnerable to drought conditions that have become more frequent in recent years. The new French Broad River intake provides a more reliable and resilient water supply to support the city's economic growth and quality of life for residents.
The details
The new French Broad River pumping station features three 5 million gallon per day pumps, adding to the city's existing water treatment capacity of 12 million gallons per day. The station was designed and permitted starting in 2016, but was temporarily knocked offline by damage from Tropical Storm Helene in 2025 before being repaired and brought online in late 2025. The project was financed through a $23.5 million low-interest loan from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, to be repaid over 20 years through water bill revenue.
- The new French Broad River intake was brought online in December 2025 after 2.5 years of construction.
- Hendersonville has enacted water use restrictions due to drought in 2007, 2008, 2016, and 2023.
The players
Ricky Levi
Water Treatment Facility Manager for the City of Hendersonville.
John Connet
City Manager for the City of Hendersonville.
Adam Steurer
Utilities Director for the City of Hendersonville.
Anna Alsobrook
Representative from the conservation nonprofit Mountain True.
What they’re saying
“With the new intake, we're setting our community up for 30 to 50 years … I'm just really proud to get this project done.”
— John Connet, City Manager (Times-News)
“Our other water supplies, they're smaller streams (with) a smaller watershed. They're just more impacted by drought … If it gets really bad and we couldn't use the Mills River (intake, then the new French Broad intake) would be the only source for the entire county.”
— Ricky Levi, Water Treatment Facility Manager (Times-News)
“We've turned the river from a liability into a resource" supporting business and recreation, through cleanup efforts.”
— Anna Alsobrook (Times-News)
What’s next
The city plans to add flood gates on the doors of the new French Broad River pumping station to prevent future damage from severe weather events.
The takeaway
Hendersonville's investment in a new, more resilient water source on the French Broad River will help the city better withstand droughts and support its growing population, demonstrating how infrastructure improvements can bolster a community's long-term sustainability.
