THOMAS, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Highways is responding to ongoing drought conditions in West Virginia. A Department of Transportation tanker has been dispatched to the Tucker County town of Thomas to provide service water for the town.
Thomas Mayor Jody Flanagan said due to high levels of iron in the town’s water supply, it has become unusable.
“This is the lowest our dam and reservoir have been in 60 years,” Flanagan said in a release from the West Virginia Department of Transportation.
Town officials were able to secure drinking water from other sources, but the water provided by the WVDOT will be non-potable and used for washing and flushing toilets.
The provision comes as a result of Governor Jim Justice’s statewide emergency declaration over drought conditions in all 55 West Virginia counties.
“Governor Justice has been very attentive to the drought conditions we’ve been experiencing around the state,” said Transportation Secretary Jimmy Wriston. “This demonstrates the teamwork and determination of the WVDOH employees across the state to serve our citizens.”