The discharge to the Columbia River from the City of The Dalles Wastewater Treatment Plant has returned to compliance with permit limits for E. coli as of October 31, 2025 at 6:37 p.m. The average of five samples taken throughout the day on October 30, 2025 at the City discharge point to the river were within limits. The delay in reading out the test results is due to the 24-hour incubation time that the test requires.
Recent Columbia River samples show that E. coli levels at the sample locations were well below bacterial criteria set by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality for freshwater recreation.
Signs which were placed at locations of public river access on the Oregon shore of the Columbia River, to warn of contaminated water, were taken down this evening.
The Department is in communication with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and local health department officials to coordinate demobilization. Questions can be directed to the Public Works Department office at (541) 296-5401.
–end–