Published: September 01, 2009 10:02 pm      

Giles residents asked to heed boil water advisory

PEARISBURG, Va. — Public water customers throughout Giles County, Va. are being advised to boil their water before use or drink bottled water until a public health notice has been lifted; meanwhile, Giles County Schools will resume classes today.

On Aug. 30, the Giles County Public Service Authority’s water treatment plant experienced a power surge that “significantly damaged electrical equipment within the plant,” according to a statement issued Tuesday by the Giles County PSA.

County PSA staff and technicians did not anticipate having the problem corrected until Sept. 3. Water storage within the system is limited to two to three days; pumping untreated water into the system is necessary to maintain service and capacity for fire fighting.

Giles County Schools were closed Tuesday as a precaution, but schools are open today, said Superintendent Dr. Terry Arbogast. County school officials and administrators met Tuesday to discuss guidelines for operating the schools during the boil water notice.

“We’ve brought in drinking water for all of our schools,” Arbogast said. “Fountains have been turned off for now and ice makers have been turned off for now. We’ve also put hand sanitizer in each of our restrooms in each of our schools. Students can use sanitizer after they’ve washed their hands in a sink.”

Changes have been made to the schools’ cafeterias, too.

“We met with our cafeteria managers and discussed ways they can adjust menus over the next couple of days,” Arbogast said. “They’ll make sub sandwiches and those types of items where they don’t have to use tap water.”

Cooks can use bottled water for cooking if it’s necessary, he said. Disposable trays and disposable place settings will be used, too, while the boil water notice is in effect.

The notice covers all customers of the PSA, said Robert Parker of the Virginia Health Department.

“Those who have a private well would not be affected by this,” he said. “If you’re on public water, you’re affected by this; if you have a private well, you’re not.”

The Virginia Department of Health and the Giles County Health Department has advised customers of the Giles County and the towns of Pearisburg, Narrows, Pembroke, Rich Creek and Glen Lyn to use boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking and cooking.

Communities including Ripplemead, Newport, Marlville, Oney and Mutter Subdivisions, Wayside, Hoges Chapel, Lurich Road, Big Stony Creek, Powell Mountain, Curve Road, Maybrook and Shute Hollow are included in the notice.

All tap water should be brought to a rolling boil, boiled for one minute, and allowed to cool before using.

Water does not need to be boiled before using it for bathing or showering, health officials said. Adults, teens and older children should avoid getting water in their mouths or swallowing the water. Infants and toddlers should be sponge bathed, and no special soaps are necessary.

People should avoid getting tap water into deep or post-surgical wounds, and consult physicians or health care providers about caring for wounds, health officials said.