CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Kanawha County school officials say they were not told about potentially tainted water at Pratt Elementary School until after students went to school on Tuesday.

Pratt water plant manager Steve Hopkins said an eight-inch water line broke in the town of Pratt on Saturday, prompting a boil-water advisory for all town residents.

But county school officials were not told until sometime Tuesday morning that there was a problem with the town's water supply, including the water for Pratt Elementary School.

Hopkins said he left a telephone message at the school on Monday and talked with school staff on Tuesday about the boil-water advisory.

Ron Pauley, communications specialist for the Kanawha County school board, said classes were canceled at Pratt Elementary School on Monday because the town and school were without water. But Pauley said school officials were not told about the boil-water advisory until after school started on Tuesday.

"As soon as we found out, we sent water to the kids," Pauley said Tuesday afternoon.

Terry Hollandsworth, maintenance director for the county school system, also said he was not informed about the boil-water advisory until Tuesday morning.

But it was not clear whether students or staff at the school drank unboiled water at the school before being told about the advisory.

Staff answering the telephone at Pratt Elementary School on Tuesday said they were "not allowed" to talk about the water situation and twice hung up on a newspaper reporter.

Pauley said he did not know exactly when county school officials were told about the water problem.

To reach Rusty Marks, e-mail rustyma...@wvgazette.com or call 304-348-1215.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Kanawha County school officials say they were not told about potentially tainted water at Pratt Elementary School until after students went to school on Tuesday.

Pratt water plant manager Steve Hopkins said an eight-inch water line broke in the town of Pratt on Saturday, prompting a boil-water advisory for all town residents.

But county school officials were not told until sometime Tuesday morning that there was a problem with the town's water supply, including the water for Pratt Elementary School.

Hopkins said he left a telephone message at the school on Monday and talked with school staff on Tuesday about the boil-water advisory.

Ron Pauley, communications specialist for the Kanawha County school board, said classes were canceled at Pratt Elementary School on Monday because the town and school were without water. But Pauley said school officials were not told about the boil-water advisory until after school started on Tuesday.

"As soon as we found out, we sent water to the kids," Pauley said Tuesday afternoon.

Terry Hollandsworth, maintenance director for the county school system, also said he was not informed about the boil-water advisory until Tuesday morning.

But it was not clear whether students or staff at the school drank unboiled water at the school before being told about the advisory.

Staff answering the telephone at Pratt Elementary School on Tuesday said they were "not allowed" to talk about the water situation and twice hung up on a newspaper reporter.

Pauley said he did not know exactly when county school officials were told about the water problem.

To reach Rusty Marks, e-mail rustyma...@wvgazette.com or call 304-348-1215.