Tucker County schools will provide water to students while under advisory

THOMAS, W.Va. (WBOY) — In response to the ongoing water issues, Tucker County schools are taking precautions to ensure the health of staff and students.

In a written statement posted to the Tucker County Schools Facebook page , the Tucker County Board of Education said it is aware of the water issues in Thomas and is working with the Office of Emergency Management and the Tucker County Health Department to ease any fears of students returning to the classroom while the county remains in the drought.

Students are allowed to bring in bottled water or will be provided with bottled water to drink throughout the school days. Potable water will be brought to both Tucker County High School and Davis-Thomas Elementary/Middle School to use in the kitchen for cooking, washing dishes and food preparation.

This will continue “until the boiled water advisory is lifted or otherwise recommended by the city of Thomas in conjunction with the local health department and the office of Emergency Management,” the post said.

Thomas is just one of several communities experiencing water issues related to the drought currently plaguing West Virginia, which led Governor Jim Justice to declare a state of emergency in July . Thomas residents first reported discolored water in late June, and a boiled water advisory has been in place since July 3. The West Virginia Division of Highways sent a water tanker to the town in early August with water for washing and flushing toilets.

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