BANNER ELK, N.C. — It has been three weeks since Tropical Storm Helene devastated Western North Carolina, and communities like Banner Elk are still without running water. According to the City Manager, the town’s water treatment plant was left compromised, and inoperable after flooding damaged the plant and washed out the road to the wastewater treatment plant. Crews have restored road access to the wastewater plant and they are now working to repair the flooded sewer main and additional collection lines, as well as flushing debris from lines. Residents have been advised that although water may be pumped from the plant, it is not safe for consumption and needs to be boiled first. With ongoing repair efforts to restore the water treatment plant, many residents have been left without access to clean drinking water. Wine to Water, a Boone-based nonprofit, is supplying every family in Banner Elk with a water filter Friday from the Historic Banner Elk School. The organization known for its global clean water initiative, has already helped more than a million people access clean water with this system. The filter operates off the same high-efficiency membrane technology as kidney dialysis, to remove 99.99% of bacteria and contaminants and can clean more than 400 gallons of water per day. Residents will be shown how to properly use and clean the filter by a member of Wine to Water between 9 am to 4 pm at the school. You can find more information and updates about the water treatment plant here.