Deadline passes for Oregon State efforts to test wells for nitrate contamination.
Video Located on NonStop Local’s news site, found here.
Rural Oregon’s struggles for drinking water frame Senate talks of national crisis
At a Senate subcommittee hearing Wednesday, Oregon Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden rattled off a list of Oregonians struggling to meet basic water needs. He mentioned dry wells in Southern Oregon, polluted groundwater in Eastern Oregon and Central Oregon, and years of boil water notices on the Warm Springs Reservation.
Wyden called on several federal agencies to collect national data on who doesn’t have safe water and direct more funding toward rural residents and Tribes.
“It’s hard to believe that in 2023 our country doesn’t even have some basic facts about the key issues to improve water quality, like who has indoor plumbing in America that actually works,” he told members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
Oregon Public Broadcasting - by Emily Cureton Cook - Sept. 21, 2023
At a Senate subcommittee hearing Wednesday, Oregon Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden rattled off a list of Oregonians struggling to meet basic water needs. He mentioned dry wells in Southern Oregon, polluted groundwater in Eastern Oregon and Central Oregon, and years of boil water notices on the Warm Springs Reservation.
Wyden called on several federal agencies to collect national data on who doesn’t have safe water and direct more funding toward rural residents and Tribes.
“It’s hard to believe that in 2023 our country doesn’t even have some basic facts about the key issues to improve water quality, like who has indoor plumbing in America that actually works,” he told members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
Senator Merkley Highlights Contaminated Well Water in Rural Oregon
From the YouTube video description:
”Senator Merkley highlighted the pressing issue of contaminated private well water in rural Oregon communities during a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (@EPWCmte) hearing titled “Implementing IIJA (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act): Perspectives on the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act, Part II” on September 7, 2023.”
YouTube Video - Posted by Senator Merkley - Sept. 7, 2023
From the YouTube video description:
”Senator Merkley highlighted the pressing issue of contaminated private well water in rural Oregon communities during a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (@EPWCmte) hearing titled “Implementing IIJA (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act): Perspectives on the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act, Part II” on September 7, 2023.”
Reports of groundwater pollution in Oregon surface in a US Senate hearing
Oregon Public Broadcasting - By Emily Cureton Cook - Sept. 11, 2023 6 a.m.
Across rural Oregon, state and federal laws don’t protect clean drinking water. That’s because these safeguards exclude private domestic wells, with consequences that were highlighted by U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley last week at a congressional hearing on infrastructure spending.
At Thursday’s hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works, the senator pointed to OPB’s reporting on two regions: In Eastern Oregon where more than 4,000 wells are at risk from decades of nitrate pollution by agricultural interests, and in Central Oregon, where dozens of people blame a gravel mine for sudden plumbing disasters and health concerns.
Oregon Public Broadcasting - By Emily Cureton Cook - Sept. 11, 2023 6 a.m.
Across rural Oregon, state and federal laws don’t protect clean drinking water. That’s because these safeguards exclude private domestic wells, with consequences that were highlighted by U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley last week at a congressional hearing on infrastructure spending.
At Thursday’s hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works, the senator pointed to OPB’s reporting on two regions: In Eastern Oregon where more than 4,000 wells are at risk from decades of nitrate pollution by agricultural interests, and in Central Oregon, where dozens of people blame a gravel mine for sudden plumbing disasters and health concerns.
Oregon sets ambitious goal for testing nitrates in Umatilla Basin groundwater
Oregon Public Broadcasting - By Monica Samayoa - Aug. 27, 2023 6 a.m.
State officials say they have ramped up nitrate testing in Eastern Oregon, where longstanding groundwater pollution has contaminated residents’ wells. Their aim is to contact all domestic well users in the region by the end of September.
The Oregon Health Authority along with the Oregon Department of Human Services said Friday that the agencies have turned to door-to-door canvassing to increase domestic well testing in the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area. For more than 30 years, the region’s groundwater has been polluted with contaminates, primarily nitrates. Groundwater is the main source of drinking water for residents in the area.
Efforts have been made to address the issue, including the creation of a committee tasked with finding solutions, but nitrate levels have continued to increase, according to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.
Oregon Public Broadcasting - By Monica Samayoa - Aug. 27, 2023 6 a.m.
State officials say they have ramped up nitrate testing in Eastern Oregon, where longstanding groundwater pollution has contaminated residents’ wells. Their aim is to contact all domestic well users in the region by the end of September.
The Oregon Health Authority along with the Oregon Department of Human Services said Friday that the agencies have turned to door-to-door canvassing to increase domestic well testing in the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area. For more than 30 years, the region’s groundwater has been polluted with contaminates, primarily nitrates. Groundwater is the main source of drinking water for residents in the area.
Efforts have been made to address the issue, including the creation of a committee tasked with finding solutions, but nitrate levels have continued to increase, according to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.
State goes door to door in Umatilla to test for contaminated wells
East Oregonian - By Dakota Castets-Didier - Aug 24, 2023 Updated Aug 27, 2023
UMATILLA — Canvassers went door to door Wednesday, Aug. 25, in Umatilla to test high-nitrate levels in groundwater and to continue to raise awareness about well water contamination.
The Oregon Department of Human Services and the Oregon Health Authority have partnered with local organizers, as well as the office of Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, to address high-nitrate levels in groundwater in Umatilla and Morrow counties. The door-to-door canvassing continues Aug. 26 in Boardman.
Canvassers offered free well tests and handed out instant tests well users can administer at home.
East Oregonian - By Dakota Castets-Didier - Aug 24, 2023 Updated Aug 27, 2023
UMATILLA — Canvassers went door to door Wednesday, Aug. 25, in Umatilla to test high-nitrate levels in groundwater and to continue to raise awareness about well water contamination.
The Oregon Department of Human Services and the Oregon Health Authority have partnered with local organizers, as well as the office of Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, to address high-nitrate levels in groundwater in Umatilla and Morrow counties. The door-to-door canvassing continues Aug. 26 in Boardman.
Canvassers offered free well tests and handed out instant tests well users can administer at home.
ORA members provide personal update to EPA representatives
Oregon Rural Action opted for a personal touch when presenting to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Boardman on Thursday, June 1.
Members of the ORA met with representatives of the EPA to give an update on well testing that has been taking place in the Boardman area as well as to communicate how slowly the testing has been occurring.
“The bottom line is that things are moving too slowly,” ORA community organizer Kaleb Lay said. “I think the EPA heard that and they’ve committed to coming back and doing this regularly. It seems they want to lean into this, but haven’t given the specifics on how they want to do that.”
Hermiston Herald - by Beau Glynn - June 7, 2023
Oregon Rural Action opted for a personal touch when presenting to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Boardman on Thursday, June 1.
Members of the ORA met with representatives of the EPA to give an update on well testing that has been taking place in the Boardman area as well as to communicate how slowly the testing has been occurring.
“The bottom line is that things are moving too slowly,” ORA community organizer Kaleb Lay said. “I think the EPA heard that and they’ve committed to coming back and doing this regularly. It seems they want to lean into this, but haven’t given the specifics on how they want to do that.”
EPA Meets With Environmentalists in the Midst of Oregon’s Water Contamination Problem
Northeast Oregon has, unfortunately, a water contamination problem, and they’ve had one for years. If you’re a natural Oregoneon, or a denizen of any other city with poorly-maintained water, that might just be old news.
However, there should be no argument against our right to have safe drinking water and other such natural resources, which is why government groups like the Environmental Protection Agency (or EPA) exist. If water is contaminated, it not only affects the environment, but us as people, and so it’s within their jurisdiction to investigate and find a solution to the problem. This is especially true given they’re a government agency funded by the taxpayers.
If you’re unfamiliar, the contamination problem comes from nitrate. The nitrate itself actually comes from things such as wastewater from industrial plants, animal manure, and form fertilizers. This creates pollution that seeps into the water and the aquifer that provides Northeast Oregon with drinking water.
Daily Tidings - By Buffy Pollock - June 6, 2023
Northeast Oregon has, unfortunately, a water contamination problem, and they’ve had one for years. If you’re a natural Oregoneon, or a denizen of any other city with poorly-maintained water, that might just be old news.
However, there should be no argument against our right to have safe drinking water and other such natural resources, which is why government groups like the Environmental Protection Agency (or EPA) exist. If water is contaminated, it not only affects the environment, but us as people, and so it’s within their jurisdiction to investigate and find a solution to the problem. This is especially true given they’re a government agency funded by the taxpayers.
If you’re unfamiliar, the contamination problem comes from nitrate. The nitrate itself actually comes from things such as wastewater from industrial plants, animal manure, and form fertilizers. This creates pollution that seeps into the water and the aquifer that provides Northeast Oregon with drinking water.
Oregon economic forecast: More money for Legislature to spend, bigger ‘kicker’ tax rebate
Kotek reiterates priorities
Kotek reiterated her calls for the budget to include $316 million for homelessness prevention, $280 million for behavioral health and $120 million for a literacy initiative. With the additional money, she’s also seeking:
$64 million for water quality and infrastructure issues, especially in rural areas. Earlier this month, she visited Morrow County and spoke with residents who have health issues linked to unsafe levels of nitrates in their drinking water.
Oregon Capital Chronicle - Julia Shumway - May 17, 2023
Kotek reiterates priorities
Kotek reiterated her calls for the budget to include $316 million for homelessness prevention, $280 million for behavioral health and $120 million for a literacy initiative. With the additional money, she’s also seeking:
$64 million for water quality and infrastructure issues, especially in rural areas. Earlier this month, she visited Morrow County and spoke with residents who have health issues linked to unsafe levels of nitrates in their drinking water.
Capital Chatter: In Eastern Oregon, Tina Kotek showed up and listened
Some naysayers had not expected Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek to show up in Boardman. When she did, they figured she would utter mere platitudes.
Instead, the Morrow County residents on Wednesday heard Kotek’s commitment to fixing their dangerously unhealthy well water: “We take this very seriously. And I’m not going to stop until you have what you need.”
“I’m impressed and I’m optimistic,” participant Raymond Akers told me after the evening meeting. Organized by Oregon Rural Action, it was conducted in English and Spanish. About 50 people participated.
Water – quality, quantity and distribution – is the overarching environmental issue throughout the West; indeed, for much of the globe. Yet Oregon’s issues drew little notice while communities such as Flint, Michigan, and Jackson, Mississippi, gained national notoriety.
Oregon Capital Insider - Dick Hughes - May 4, 2023
Some naysayers had not expected Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek to show up in Boardman. When she did, they figured she would utter mere platitudes.
Instead, the Morrow County residents on Wednesday heard Kotek’s commitment to fixing their dangerously unhealthy well water: “We take this very seriously. And I’m not going to stop until you have what you need.”
“I’m impressed and I’m optimistic,” participant Raymond Akers told me after the evening meeting. Organized by Oregon Rural Action, it was conducted in English and Spanish. About 50 people participated.
Water – quality, quantity and distribution – is the overarching environmental issue throughout the West; indeed, for much of the globe. Yet Oregon’s issues drew little notice while communities such as Flint, Michigan, and Jackson, Mississippi, gained national notoriety.