Updated: 2:40 p.m.

Narrows High School Principal Rex Gearhart confirmed that Giles County schools will reopen on Wednesday, a day after schools were shuttered because of a boil-water advisory. Students will continue in school through Thursday, but Friday and Monday are holidays already built into the academic calendar.

The school system has purchased bottled water and has shut down all water fountains and ice makers.

At Narrows, custodians have set up water stations throughout the school for students, faculty and staff. Gearhart said all the restrooms will have hand sanitizer available. Students will continue to eat at the high school, he said. Cafeteria staff reworked the breakfast and lunch menus so they don't have to use the affected water and disposable cutlery will be used.

The school system has posted procedures for the boil-water notice (PDF) on its Web site.

Gearhart said the delay in school shouldn't affect academics because classes just began Monday. If teachers intended to use the water, they should change their lesson plans.

-- Anna Mallory

Updated: 11:20 a.m.

Clean water service is expected to be restored in Giles County Sept. 9 or 10, according to Roger Houck, interim director of the Giles County Public Service Authority.

A part is on order from Wisconsin for the region’s water filtration plant, which was disabled by a suspected electrical surge during the past weekend. The system is delivering chlorinated but unfiltered water, Houck said this morning.

Officials advised all water system users Monday night to boil drinking water before use. The system supplies potable water to 5,000 homes and businesses in the county and the communities of Glen Lyn, Narrows, Pearisburg, Pembroke and Rick Creek. Officials have cancelled school.

After the part arrives, crews will need a week or more to restart the system because of extensive set-up requirements that include bacterial testing across the system, Houck said.

“It could be Wednesday or Thursday of next week,” Houck said.

-- Jeff Sturgeon