For the first time in four days, West Virginia residents can now safely use the water by any means after a chemical spill contaminated water supplies for hundreds of thousands of people.

Waterlines on the West Virginia State University campus were flushed throughout the day on Wednesday, Jan. 15, and university offices were open the same day for students to make payments, visit the bookstore or make any other necessary arrangements, according to a school report.

The school also reports that “tap water is now available for regular use”, including drinking, cooking and bathing.

Last Thursday officials urged West Virginia people not to do anything with the water when thousands of gallons of 4-methylcyclohexane methanol leaked out of from a storage tank on the nearby Elk River: “We don’t know that the water is not safe, but I can’t say it is safe,” said Jeff McIntyre, president of West Virginia American Water.

Recently the West Virginia American Water Co. said it had lifted the ban for 26,000 customers.

Spring semester classes at WVSU begin Tuesday, Jan. 21.

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Tommy Meade Jr. is HBCU Buzzs Editor in chief. Follow him on Twitter.

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