Wastewater treatment in a box: Technology, engineers help Spruce Pine fast-track recovery from Hurricane Helene

In response to Hurricane Helene, volunteer group Flush AVL addressed the growing health issue of water shortages by distributing non-potable water to those in need for flushing toilets and maintaining hygiene. Volunteers used QR codes on the water containers to track refills, while an online map helped coordinate deliveries. Additionally, another group, Planet Water, installed AquaBlocks, devices that filter water from local sources to support up to 6,000 people daily, to further address the water shortage issue.

Volunteers with BeLoved Asheville are bringing Asheville residents water so they can flush toilets, wash their hands and shower amid the water scarcity caused by Hurricane Helene. These improvised distribution systems have become crucial to ensure residents can maintain their hygiene and prevent illness until their normal water access is restored.

Water Mission is helping ensure Western North Carolina residents have access to safe water following Hurricane Helene. The group installed four of its proprietary mobile water treatment systems which produce 15,000 liters of clean water a day. The group has also distributed and gassed 400 generators for people to power their wells.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, several community-led organizations are joining forces to help those in need by gathering and distributing supply donations and helping those affected apply for FEMA assistance, unemployment and other relief support.

Community volunteers, churches like the Mother Grove Goddess Temple and organizations like BeLoved Asheville are ramping up to provide relief to those in need in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, providing everything from gas cans to camping supplies to winter gear and first aid supplies.

In the aftermath of Hurrican Helene, hospitals in Western North Carolina are working to keep healthcare services operational with methods like staff adjustments, backup power systems, coordination with local emergency services and creating disaster preparedness plans. These efforts have allowed the hospitals to stay open during the storms and continue providing care to those who need it.

In response to Hurricane Helene's devastation, water rescue experts from Outdoor Adventure Rafting in Tennessee are volunteering to deliver essential supplies, medical aid and communication to isolated communities. They mobilized over 200 volunteers and used resources like excavation equipment and Starlink satellite internet to bridge communication gaps. Their efforts have reached several communities, helping to stabilize them with food, water and other critical resources.

After Hurricane Helene shut down most of the power grid, the Footprint Project brought 47 portable solar arrays and battery systems to the area to help restore power. These solar panels offer an alternative to diesel-powered generators, so people in remote areas experiencing a natural disaster don’t have to rely on burning fossil fuels, which contributes to the climate crisis.

Architect Kalpana Ramesh and the Rainwater Project, supported by Telangana's government, are restoring centuries-old abandoned stepwells as functional water sources by removing decades of accumulated garbage, rebuilding stone structures, and installing rainwater-harvesting systems. Since the first restoration was completed in December 2022, the well has consistently maintained a water depth of nine meters, even during the summer, providing clean water for the first time in 40 years. To date, 25 stepwells have been restored across Telangana.

Morocco's implementation of seawater desalination plants has successfully provided drinking water to 1.6 million people and enabled record agricultural exports for large-scale tomato producers, while simultaneously revealing the technology's limitations in addressing broader water needs due to high costs, geographic constraints, and environmental impacts that benefit only well-funded farms near coastal facilities.