CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – An overnight water main break Friday in Stanardsville has prompted the Greene County Department of Water and Sewer and the Virginia Department of Health to issue a boil water advisory for customers west of the Tech Center, the organizations announced Friday.

The boil water advisory, which suggests using boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking and cooking, could last “several days.”

The main broke overnight along Spotswood Trail in Stanardsville, and county administration recommends anyone with water west of the Tech Center at any point after the advisory, out of an abundance of caution, boils it first. This break is complicated by other utilities co-located nearby and crews had to wait to do the repairs until deemed safe to do so.

“This precaution is necessary due to the service interruption, and the possibility of the presence of E. coli bacteria from infiltration into the distribution system,” the release said. “Failure to follow this advisory could result in stomach or intestinal illness.”

As a result of the break, all the Stanardsville campus schools are closed Friday: William Monroe High, William Monroe Middle, Nathaniel Greene Elementary, and Nathaniel Greene Primary.

Ruckersville Elementary School will remain open and run on its regular schedule.

Greene County Government Offices in Standardsville are also closed Friday.

Questions can be directed to the Department of Water and Sewer at 434-985-1348.