Thousands of Bottles of Water Help Woodbridge Students Weather the Water Alert

students who returned to the building today after yesterday's unexpected holiday from a still won't be able to drink water from school fountains.

Instead, they'll be greeted with bottles of water, enough for every teen who wants a drink.

That's because yesterday, several employees of the district's Buildings and Grounds Department delivered thousands of bottles of water to children in elementary and middle schools which were still in session, but who werefor precautionary reasons.

"They were welcome to have it," said Anthony D'Orsi, supervisor of Buildings and Grounds who spearheaded the water delivery. 

had issued a 'boil water' alert which runs through 4 pm today and affects residents in Woodbridge Proper, Avenel, and Fords. Woodbridge High School, which is located right across from the burst pipe on Route 35, was closed Wednesday because of the water alert. 

It wasn't the first time D'Orsi's crew turned into delivery men. "There was a water pipe break a thousand yards away two years ago, and the same thing happened. We delivered water then, too," D'Orsi said.

Six thousand bottles of Poland Spring water was purchased from nearby , which had the water in the supermarket's warehouse. 

"We went in the back, loaded the trucks, and had it distributed to the schools in less than an hour and a half," he said. 

Water was also handed out at the on School Street. 

D'Orsi and his crew made sure that water fountains in the affected schools were sealed with black plastic and duct tape.

Schools that got the bottled water included , , and in Woodbridge Proper; , and in Avenel; and , , and in Fords.

"Anyone who needs water will have it," D'Orsi said.