In Bement, Illinois, water is once again coursing through the pipes, yet the village remains under a boil advisory that has been in place since a water main rupture occurred on Saturday. However, the water issue is not the sole challenge facing the community.

Monday saw students participating in remote learning, not due to the water situation, but rather because of persistent heating problems. School administrators pinpointed these issues on Friday, resulting in an early release of students.

The trouble was traced back to a malfunctioning pilot valve in the school’s boiler, which led to an accumulation of natural gas—a serious fire risk. The absence of running water over the weekend heightened the potential danger of fire.