What nitrate water pollution means for residents in Eastern Oregon

A "West Glen United" sign is posted near the West Glen neighborhood south of Boardman, Ore., on Friday, July 24, 2026. Antonio Sierra / OPB

For three decades, many residents in Eastern Oregon’s Umatilla basin have been drinking nitrate-polluted drinking water. Some residents blame nearby food-processors and farms that use nitrogen-rich fertilizers for the issue.

Last week, a $6.2 million settlement was reached between Madison Ranches and the people living in Morrow and Umatilla Counties who filed the suit. Kaleb Lay, director of policy and research at Oregon Rural Action, took OPB’s Think Out Loud on a tour of affected areas, along with Jim Doherty, a rancher and former Morrow County Commissioner. We’ll also hear from Paulo Lopez whose well is polluted.