Full Breakdown
PVC Pipes Remain a Dominant Debris Threat Two Years After Hurricane Helene
By Drooid · · How we work
The Flood’s Legacy: PVC Pipes Flood the French Broad River
In late September 2024 Hurricane Helene dumped more than 30 inches (76 cm) of rain across western North Carolina, producing a flood that far exceeded the expected “100-year” event. An earthen berm at the IPEX manufacturing site north of Asheville failed, and an estimated 60 % of the PVC pipes stored outdoors at the plant were swept into the French Broad River. The pipes now litter roughly 70 miles (113 km) of the river, forming mounds up to two stories high and constituting about 80 % of debris in some sections.
Ongoing Cleanup and Costs
MountainTrue, the nonprofit leading river-cleanup, has deployed ten crews of roughly 100 people—many former river guides whose livelihoods were lost in the storm. The organization reports 50,000 work-hours and more than $1.5 million spent on pipe removal from the French Broad alone. A $10 million state grant awarded in 2025 was extended to February 2026, and IPEX has agreed to contribute $500,000 to fund continued efforts.
Environmental and Safety Concerns
MountainTrue officials warn that the massive PVC debris poses immediate hazards to rafters and kayakers and alters water flow, threatening the river’s ecosystem. As the plastic degrades, it can release micro-plastics and become brittle, raising long-term health concerns for wildlife and humans who contact the water.
Official Statements & Responses
IPEX CEO Colleen Pritchett said the company acknowledges the ongoing challenge of the cleanup. Vice-president of manufacturing Johnny Drummond explained that the plant had been secured for a predicted 100-year flood, but the event was “10 times worse” than anticipated. MountainTrue operations director Jon Stamper emphasized the scale of effort required and the uncertainty of fully removing the material.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Just the amount of time and energy that we put into removing all this pipe is exhausting,” — Jon Stamper
- “We want to avoid that stuff sitting there forever and just slowly deteriorating and breaking into smaller and smaller pieces,” — Jon Stamper
- “I truly don’t think anybody else could do this work except for our debris team members,” — Anna Alsobrook