Press Release: Monitoring Columbia River Situation Following Industrial Spill
May 28, 2026
CITY OF RAINIER PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
City of Rainier Closely Monitoring Columbia River Situation Following Industrial Spill; Water Quality Testing Ongoing
The City of Rainier is actively monitoring the recent release of white liquor from the Nippon facility in Longview, Washington, which has entered the Columbia River. City officials are working in close coordination with state and federal agencies, including the Oregon Health Authority, to ensure the continued safety of our drinking water supply.
“The health and safety of Rainier residents is our top priority,” said Mayor Jerry Cole, City of Rainier. “We are continuously testing water at both our river intake and the water treatment plant. Current results show no impacts to our drinking water quality, and we remain confident in the robustness of our treatment processes and the natural dilution capacity of the Columbia River. We are being very cautious of the situation.”
Key Actions Being Taken
- Enhanced monitoring and sampling at the Columbia River water intake
- Regular laboratory testing at the Rainier Water Treatment Plant for pH, alkalinity, sodium levels, and other relevant parameters.
- Coordination with regional partners for real-time data sharing on river conditions
- Increased frequency of water quality checks until the situation is fully resolved
To date, no drinking water advisories have been issued for Rainier. The City’s drinking water continues to meet all federal and state standards. Residents do not need to take any special precautions with their tap water at this time. The City will provide regular updates as new information becomes available.
Residents are encouraged to visit the City of Rainier website for the latest developments.
For more information, contact Russ Reigel Public Works at 503-313-5871 email rreigel@cityofRainier.com, Scott Jorgensen City Administrator at 503-556-7301 email sjorgensen@cityofrainier.com, or Mayor Cole at 503-396-0683 email Mayor@cityofrainier.com