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Portland Plans Lead-Asbestos Water Tower Blasts August 17, 2026

8/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

Portland will demolish Centennial Mills water tower on Aug 17, 2026.
Officials will text an hour before, sound sirens three and one minutes before, and initiate a five-second countdown to trigger four blasts.
People within a half-mile must stay indoors, wear N95 masks, avoid tracking dust, as the dust may contain lead and asbestos.
Pearl District residents Courtney France Kennedy and Chris Conley want updates, and city provided the 988 crisis hotline.

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Story summary

Portland will demolish Centennial Mills water tower on Aug 17, 2026.
Officials will text an hour before, sound sirens three and one minutes before, and initiate a five-second countdown to trigger four blasts.
People within a half-mile must stay indoors, wear N95 masks, avoid tracking dust, as the dust may contain lead and asbestos.
Pearl District residents Courtney France Kennedy and Chris Conley want updates, and city provided the 988 crisis hotline.