Walla Walla water supply emergency declared due to Paradise Fire

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has declared a state of emergency for Walla Walla due to threats to the city's primary water supply. The declaration follows the Paradise Fire, which was sparked by lightning on July 16 and has burned over 8,000 acres within the 21,440-acre Mill Creek Watershed.

The watershed provides more than 75 percent of the drinking water for approximately 35,000 residents. While the watershed remains largely intact, officials are concerned that ash, smoke, sediment, and other pollutants from the fire could contaminate the water. The local treatment facility currently lacks the capability to filter out these specific contaminants.

The emergency proclamation allows Walla Walla County officials to access federal assistance, including resources from the US Army Corps of Engineers, to mitigate both immediate and long-term risks. These risks include potential flooding, landslides, debris flows, and sedimentation caused by the altered landscape.