Hurricane Helene brought death and destruction to North Carolina, with the western part of the state in particular seeing entire towns and homes washed away. In the aftermath of the storm, the state is facing many issues that could affect the welfare of its residents, including the quality of its water supply, according to one Northeastern University expert.
Many residents in the western part of the state get their water from home wells. These systems are prone to contamination during flooding events, leaving the people who use them at a higher risk of being exposed to E. coli and other bacteria if they don’t properly sanitize them, said Kelsey Pieper, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at Northeastern, who is helping the North Carolina Department of Health in its recovery efforts.
