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It’s been 30 years since state agencies first noted high levels of nitrate contamination in the groundwater in Morrow and Umatilla counties. Since then, the state and a sanctioned local committee have worked on voluntary measures to reduce the contamination. Still, nitrate levels in the area’s primary source of drinking water have steadily increased, and no mandatory action has been taken to begin cleanup.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s regional administrator is warning Oregon government agencies that federal authorities will act if the state doesn’t quickly address the nitrate contamination cleanup in Eastern Oregon.
EPA has asked the state to conduct more well testing to understand where the contamination is, whose wells are affected, and where the nitrates are coming from. EPA Region 10 Spokesperson Bill Dunbar said that if Oregon does not quickly address the problem, the agency can enter under the Safe Drinking Water Act to protect people’s health. Residents want more rapid and ongoing well testing and still receive free water delivery for everyone affected. Dunbar continued by saying, “We’re not going away.” The agency will use every authority to ensure people have clean drinking water.