The Columbia River in Longview, Washington, has been contaminated following a chemical spill at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility. The incident occurred when a 900,000-gallon tank of ‘white liquor,’ a highly alkaline chemical used in papermaking, ruptured. Approximately 25,000 gallons of the solution remained in the tank after the rupture, with the rest leaking into the environment.

Efforts to Mitigate Contamination

Officials from the Department of Ecology have been working to dilute the chemicals in nearby ditches with fresh water before flushing them into the river. This process aims to reduce the pH levels to minimize environmental impact. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Washington Department of Ecology, is monitoring the situation closely.

Brian Wood, support services director at Nippon Dynawave Packaging, noted that the contamination likely occurred at the time of the rupture, with spikes in high-pH material detected in the facility’s discharge into the Columbia River. Further evaluations are underway to assess the environmental impact, according to Cowlitz Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Goldstein.

Public Safety Measures

Residents have been advised to avoid dikes and ditches between Washington Way and Prudential Boulevard due to contaminated water. Although no health impacts on air quality or Longview’s drinking water system have been identified, officials are monitoring these closely. The potential for contamination of the underlying aquifer remains a concern as long as chemicals persist in the ditch system.

Governor Bob Ferguson reported that about a dozen carp were found dead in the affected waterways. The EPA and Department of Ecology are overseeing the flushing of Longview’s ditch system using water from the Cowlitz River and nearby fire hydrants to prevent the spread of contamination to residential areas and the city’s water supply.

Tragic Loss of Life

The disaster has resulted in the deaths of two individuals, with nine more missing and presumed dead. Several others were injured in the incident, which is being described as one of the deadliest industrial tragedies in modern Washington state history. Recovery efforts are ongoing as officials continue to address the aftermath of the spill.

Original reporting: KTVB (Boise metro) — read the source article.