City’s water win? We’ll drink to that

State Supreme Court justices voted 5-2 last month to strike down the 2013 law that would have transferred ownership of Asheville’s water system from the city to the Metropolitan Sewerage District, had it not been tied up in litigation.

The key issue was whether the bill was a local act or a general act, with the court writing that “the legislation is, without doubt, a local rather than a general law.” Therefore, to the relief of many in Asheville, the transfer was overturned.

The system “has been built and maintained... using a combination of taxes, service fees, connection charges, bonded indebtedness, federal and state grants, contributions from Buncombe County and donations from property owners and developers,” justice Sam Ervin wrote.

Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer said afterward, “This ruling ensures that Asheville can continue to own this great water system and continue to provide safe drinking water for years into the future.” 

We are elated that justice triumphed over legislative meddling in local affairs.