Water contaminated by Longview implosion flushed through ditch system

Water contaminated by the release of white liquor from the implosion at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility in Longview is being flushed through the city's ditch system to dilute it to levels safe for discharge into the Columbia River, officials said Wednesday evening.

The water will be drawn away from residential areas and the city's water supply and diluted with water from the Cowlitz River and fire hydrants in Longview's Highlands neighborhood, according to a joint statement from Cowlitz Fire and Rescue, the Longview Fire Department, Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Ecology. Pumping operations have resumed at the Reynolds Way Industrial Pumping Station.

The implosion of the 900,000-gallon tank released white liquor into the storm drain system, which connects to a diking system. It's unclear how much was released into the system.

The city's water remains safe to drink, officials said.

The pH is being monitored at the pumping station to make sure the water flow is stopped before the hazardous contamination levels reach the Columbia River. If samples show the dilution wasn't effective, the water pumping will stop and crews will take other steps to reduce the pH levels.

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