Amazon Data Center Expansion Linked to Deepening Water Pollution Crisis

A severe water contamination crisis is unfolding in rural Oregon. The local aquifer, the sole water source for thousands, is poisoned with high nitrate levels. This public health emergency is now linked to the rapid expansion of Amazon data centers in the region.

The crisis centers on Morrow County, where industrial agriculture and Big Tech collide. For decades, fertilizer runoff from megafarms has tainted the groundwater. The arrival of Amazon’s data centers has significantly worsened the problem, according to state environmental officials and local advocates.

How Data Centers Intensified a Long-Standing Problem

The Lower Umatilla Basin aquifer has shown rising nitrate levels since 1991. Nitrates, a byproduct of fertilizer, are linked to cancers, thyroid disease, and devastating “blue baby syndrome” in infants. According to Reuters, the area’s porous, sandy soil allows contaminants to seep quickly into the groundwater below.

Amazon’s data centers use millions of gallons of this aquifer water annually for cooling. This water, already laced with nitrates, is then sent as wastewater to the Port of Morrow. The Port sprays this contaminated water on farmland as a fertilizer replacement. This cycle supercharges the pollution, driving more nitrates into the aquifer faster.

A Public Health Emergency and Political Backlash

The human cost became undeniable in 2022. Former county commissioner Jim Doherty conducted informal water tests. He found that 68 of 70 private wells tested violated federal safety limits. Residents reported clusters of miscarriages, cancers, and kidney failure.

Doherty declared a local state of emergency to unlock aid for bottled water and filtration systems. This move put him in direct conflict with powerful local officials and agricultural interests. He and a fellow commissioner were later removed from office following a recall campaign supported by those interests.

The situation has drawn comparisons to Flint, Michigan. “These are people who have no political or economic power, and very little knowledge of the risk,” said Kristin Ostrom of Oregon Rural Action, a local advocacy group.

Info at your fingertips

What are the health risks of nitrate contamination?

High nitrate levels in drinking water are particularly dangerous for infants, causing a potentially fatal blood disorder. Long-term consumption in adults is linked to increased risks of thyroid disease and certain cancers, including colorectal cancer.

How do data centers contribute to water pollution?

Data centers use vast amounts of water for cooling. In Morrow County, they pull nitrate-laden water from the aquifer. When this water cycles through the cooling process and evaporates, the nitrate concentration in the remaining wastewater increases, intensifying the pollution.

What is being done to help affected residents?

The county and state have provided limited funding for bottled water and home filtration systems. A major class action lawsuit has been filed against the polluters, seeking to force a cleanup and secure compensation for the community.

Is Amazon facing any legal consequences?

Amazon has not yet been named as a defendant in the suit, but court filings indicate it is a target. The company was sent a formal 90-day notice to cease its contribution to the pollution, a precursor to litigation.

What is the main source of the nitrate pollution?

Industrial agriculture is the primary source. However, the data centers exacerbate the issue by adding to the total volume of wastewater that must be disposed of on local fields, accelerating the contamination of the underground aquifer.

The unfolding crisis in Oregon underscores a critical, nationwide conflict between technological growth and essential natural resources. The resolution of the Amazon data center pollution case will set a significant precedent for corporate accountability and environmental justice.