New Oregon bill proposes stronger state action on nitrate pollution in groundwater

By EHN Curators | EHN | May 7, 2025

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has introduced a bill to give the state more authority to regulate groundwater pollution, drawing both support and widespread opposition from private well owners and the agricultural industry.

Antonio Sierra reports for Oregon Public Broadcasting.

In short:

• Senate Bill 1154 would overhaul Oregon’s 36-year-old groundwater protection law, empowering state agencies to enforce pollution controls, particularly against agricultural polluters.

• Critics, including hundreds of private well owners and agricultural groups, argue the bill threatens rural water rights and property access, while supporters emphasize the public health dangers posed by rising nitrate levels.

• The bill introduces a three-tiered system — green, yellow, and red — to classify groundwater safety and determine regulatory responses, with the strictest measures applied to heavily polluted areas like the Lower Umatilla Basin.