Oregon officials are coordinating an inter-agency response to ongoing groundwater contamination in the state’s Lower Umatilla Basin.
The response includes testing and treatment of affected wells, pursuing a contract with a local community-based organization to engage in this effort, and dedicating a project manager to support safe drinking water.
The groundwater in the Lower Umatilla Basin has suffered from high nitrate levels for decades. These nitrate levels can affect the quality of drinking water from private wells.
“Every Oregonian should have safe, healthy drinking water. The water contamination experienced in Morrow and Umatilla counties is unacceptable and must be fixed,” said Oregon Governor Tina Kotek. “Residents need to be aware of the danger posed by nitrates and have immediate access to well testing and clean drinking water while we work toward longer-term solutions.”
This week, members of the Governor’s Office were in Morrow and Umatilla counties touring impacted residential sites and meeting with community leaders, local elected leaders and public health officials in advance of the Governor visiting Umatilla and Morrow counties in the coming weeks.
Since January, the state has been collaborating with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), as well as engaging community leaders to build a plan and team that will accelerate free testing of domestic wells.
A dedicated project manager from OHA has been identified to lead this inter-agency work. A public education and outreach campaign will ensure that every domestic well owner in the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area has information on the impact of high nitrates in drinking water.
In addition to free water testing, households whose water tests high for nitrates will receive delivered water and, where effective, in-home filtration systems, while longer-term solutions are being developed.
The state is also pursuing a contract with a local community-based organization to support the outreach, engagement, and delivery of water testing and treatment in impacted communities. There will be additional outreach to other community-based organizations to engage in that work. Governor Kotek is committed to working with the EPA, DEQ, ODA, and community members to address the long-term remediation needs of the groundwater aquifer.
“I want residents who have been impacted by this water contamination to know that we are working with urgency to deliver solutions,” Governor Kotek said. “The state’s coordinated response must meet the needs of the families on the ground. In addition to my staff’s hard work over the past several months, I look forward to personally meeting with community members in Umatilla and Morrow counties in the weeks ahead.”
Residents of the affected region can access testing by visiting the OHA Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area Testing and Treatment webpage or contacting their county public health department.
