Wine To Water, an international nonprofit focused on clean water access, has launched a free water quality testing program for households in Western North Carolina.

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Nonprofit launches program for Polk, WNC residents

 

FOOTHILLS—Wine To Water, an international nonprofit focused on clean water access, has launched a free water quality testing program for households in Western North Carolina.

The program, which has already received requests from over 400 households, is designed to build confidence in and ensure access to safe drinking water across 23 counties, including Polk, Rutherford, and Henderson counties.

Households in these communities can request free water quality testing for any water source or well/spring box repair at www.wtw.org/wnc-wqt. 

With the help of around 1,400 dedicated volunteers, Wine To Water has already made a significant impact in the region following Hurricane Helene’s devastation. The organization has distributed nearly 440,000 gallons of water, delivered 1.2 million pounds of emergency supplies, provided nearly 3,700 hollow fiber membrane filters, assembled and handed out 5,850 hygiene kits, built or placed over fifteen tiny homes or temporary shelters, and recycled more than 94,500 plastic bottles through sustainable response efforts.

The current phase of the initiative focuses on three key areas: educating residents about water quality challenges, conducting no-cost household water quality testing to assess overall drinking water health, and providing infrastructure repair for private wells and spring boxes. A pilot for infrastructure repairs will launch soon, complementing the organization’s transition from emergency response to long-term water solutions.

“We believe everyone deserves to have confidence in the water they drink,” said Jeremy Kilday, U.S. Program Director at WTW. “By offering household tap testing across Western North Carolina, we’re helping families impacted by Hurricane Helene get the information they need to protect their health—and when contaminants are found, we’re committed to helping them find real and appropriate solutions.”

To learn more about Wine To Water and its programs, visit wtw.org.