WAKEFIELD—Better to be safe than sorry when it comes to water. Wakefield officials and residents await the ‘all clear’ signal from Richmond that they can again use their tap water for drinking or cooking.

For the past week, the town of Wakefield has been without good old H2O, except for sanitation purposes. A breakdown in the water treatment plant has required not only a couple of repairs, but also frequent testing.

Wakefield Mayor C. Winston Britt Sr. is optimistic.

“I think we’re going to be in pretty good shape. They were still sampling on Friday and Saturday,” he said, adding that results should be known by Monday, if not Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, Del. Rick Morris (R-64) arranged for Food Lion to contribute 1,000 cases of bottled water, and distribution took place Thursday evening at the firehouse.

“We gave out over 300 cases last night,” Britt said Friday afternoon. More bottles were handed out yesterday and another give-away is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday.