Montreat Minute for June 5, 2026

June 5, 2026
Circular logo for the Town of Montreat, North Carolina, featuring a brick stone gate with MONTREAT written on it, trees on both sides, and the year 1967 below. The text encircles the image.

Town Council Meeting Thursday, June 11th at 6:00 pm

The Montreat Town Council will meet for its monthly meeting next Thursday, June 11th, at 6:00 pm in the Town Hall Community Room.The Public Forum precedes the Council Meeting, beginning at 5:30 pm. Everyone is invited to attend. The agenda is available by CLICKING HERE.

The meeting will be live streamed. CLICK HERE for streaming information.

Clean Water!

A hand holding a glass under a running kitchen faucet, filling the glass with water. The faucet is silver and mounted on a metal sink in front of white tiled wall.

Once again, we are pleased to report that Montreat has good, clean drinking water as assessed by required water testing and reporting standards. The 2025 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report may be accessed by CLICKING HERE. Please read the report to find out the sources of our water, what the EPA wants us to know about drinking water, characteristics of our water, and much more.

As you may know, there are some unique aspects about Montreat water. Here’s the background: Every summer and other popular seasons when the Town population increases, water demand increases as well. With the increase comes a unique aspect to our water: air bubbles, which create initial “milkiness” to the water. An explanation follows, but first a quick primer on how the water system works.

Our water comes from 11 wells situated throughout the Town, from down by the gate all the way up to the extra territorial jurisdiction (ETJ) off Greybeard Trail. Water is treated from each well then distributed either directly to homes and other dwellings/buildings or pumped into storage tanks located on Appalachian Way and Harmony Lane. The tanks provide water when demand increases. When populations increase in the summer and other popular seasons, significantly more water is drawn through the system. Pumps work overtime, with air getting in the water caused by the pumping action. Because demand is great, the bubbles do not have an opportunity to dissipate, and they end up in your water glass. Within seconds they disappear, but not without first causing a bit of consternation.

But as mentioned earlier, our water quality is high and those bubbles won’t hurt you. Our water is tested monthly by an independent laboratory, with results reported to the State and Montreat governments. What happens with the air bubbles is simply unique to our situation and has no effect upon water quality.

Please know that it is our independent well water system that allowed the town to have water within 10 days of Hurricane Helene in 2024, with the water boil advisory lifted a week later. Surrounding communities including Black Mountain, Asheville, Woodfin, and Weaverville were without water for as long as two months.

Many thanks to our staff responsible for water and water quality, especially Jarod McIntosh and Barry Creasman.

Going Away? Ask MPD to do a House Check

A small yellow vintage car with a large stack of suitcases and bags tied to its roof, isolated on a white background.

Cottagers are always on the go, sometimes for days or weeks at a time. If so, submit a Montreat Police Department House Check Request form. When you do, MPD will periodically check your home during your absence to ensure all is well. The form is on the website. CLICK HERE for a quick link. There is no charge for this special service provided by our police department. Thanks to the MPD for this valuable service.

Sanitation Ordinance New Resources

A sign with the text Bear Aware in green above a black bear silhouette that says Keep Bears Wild in orange, set against a green and white background.

As part of preparations for the revised Sanitation Ordinance, a new resource sheet with various options for bear resistant containers as well as permanent bear resistant solutions has been prepared. For a copy of the list, CLICK HERE. If you have questions about the ordinance or anything related to being bear ready, email trash@townofmontreat.org or call 828/669-8002, ext 1.

Updates and Reminders

A hand writes the word REMINDERS in black marker, with a red underline beneath the text on a white background.
  • The Montreat Tree Board will meet on Tuesday, June 9th, at 9:00 am in the Town Hall Community Room. The meeting will be live streamed. For streaming instructions CLICK HERE. All are welcome to attend.
  • Do you receive your own copy of the Montreat Minute or know someone who doesn’t? Sign up for the Sunshine List to receive the Montreat Minute and stay “in the know” about the Town’s happenings. CLICK HERE to sign up for the list!
  • Do you receive Montreat CodeRED alerts, an emergency communications system used a number of times during the hurricane? If not, CLICK HERE to register and ensure you will be contacted in the event of an emergency.

Questions or Comments?

Do you have Town-related questions or comments to offer? If so, please send them to Angie Murphy at info@townofmontreat.org and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Have a good weekend!

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