BLACKSTONE -- Residents in the town of Blackstone and North Smithfield, R.I., are being asked not to use their water until further notice Tuesday.

NewsCenter 5's Jack Harper reported that vandals broke into the 1 million gallon Bellingham Road water tower overnight and left behind a bucket containing an unknown substance.

"Basically there was a large, steel door that was pried open; the door knob was taken off the door. Inside the building was a screen area that was ripped off. The gate which prevents people from going up the ladder to the top of the tower, about 14 or 15 feet in the air, was broken," said Town Manager Ray Houle.

Officials said the contents of the container had an odor, and it would be tested. The results of the tests were not expected until Wednesday. Officials flushed the water system Tuesday.

"We have a series of tests we are running now, a bacteria test. It takes about 22 hours. We are running regular tests in regular labs to determine the feasibility of the rest of the system," Houle said.

Although there's no proof of any kind of contamination, residents are being asked not to use their water as a precaution.

The affected water system serves residents of Blackstone and some residents of neighboring North Smithfield. Schools in Blackstone were closed early Tuesday and will remain closed Wednesday as a precaution.

"They told us the water was shut off at the school and if you need to use the bathroom, for emergencies there were Port-A-Potties here," high school junior Jason Carroll said.

The town shut down the entire water system, forcing businesses to close.