HermistonHerald.com
Nitrate contamination is impacting residential wells in two counties in northeast Oregon. As part of a congressional spending bill, Umatilla and Morrow counties will receive $1.7 million in federal aid to address the contamination. The funding will be used to implement a standardized well-testing program for domestic wells and to develop permanent drinking water solutions.
It is estimated that 3,291 private domestic wells may be polluted with unhealthy levels of nitrate within the management area. State agencies and volunteers are offering to test residents’ wells for free. Bottled water is now being delivered to 341 households. Water treatment systems have been installed in 28 homes.