Longview’s Drinking Water Advisory Committee has recommended that the city continue studying the feasibility of sourcing municipal water from the Cowlitz River. The recommendation, made during the committee’s Tuesday meeting, came despite some members expressing concern over past water quality findings attached to that potential source.

Longview currently draws its drinking water from the Mint Farm Regional Water Treatment Plant, which uses groundwater from deep wells near the Columbia River. However, the city has long debated whether returning to a surface water source could improve reliability and long-term supply capacity. The Cowlitz River, which once served as the city’s primary source, has been under renewed consideration as the city looks at long-term resilience and infrastructure costs.

According to a summary of the meeting made available by city staff, the majority of committee members agreed to move forward with additional study, including updated water sampling and a review of potential treatment upgrades that would be necessary to meet state and federal standards. Opponents of the motion cited the financial burden and potential risks from turbidity, contamination, and seasonal sediment levels documented in past testing.

City officials have not yet committed to a final change of source. Any recommendation from the advisory group would still require formal review by the Longview City Council, environmental regulators, and regional stakeholders. The city has emphasized that no immediate shifts will occur while data collection and engineering assessments remain underway.

The Cowlitz River remains a critical waterway in southwest Washington, supporting hydropower production, recreation, and fish habitat. A potential return to the river for municipal use would likely require coordination with multiple agencies, including the Washington Department of Ecology and the Cowlitz County Public Utility District.

Why this matters: A source shift could affect both the cost of delivering safe drinking water and the ecological balance of one of Cowlitz County’s defining rivers. As Longview continues to weigh options between groundwater stability and surface water accessibility, residents are likely to see continued debate over environmental safety, expense, and long-term sustainability.