Oregon is facing a severe water crisis due to high levels of pollution in the state’s aquifer. A recent investigation by Rolling Stone reveals that massive data centers are draining local wells and exacerbating the problem, threatening the lives of thousands of residents. The issue has been ongoing for decades, but Amazon’s arrival in 2011 further accelerated the issue.
The Lower Umatilla Basin aquifer is the sole source of water for up to 45,000 people, yet nitrate levels have increased dramatically since the early 1990s. A 2022 investigation by a local commissioner uncovered six wells with extremely high nitrate levels, and subsequent sampling revealed that 68 out of 70 wells were contaminated.
Data centers are cooling their equipment using water drawn from the same aquifer as residents, causing nitrate levels to rise. The companies involved claim they do not add nitrates to their processes, but experts say the increased irrigation accelerates the problem. Amazon maintains it is only a small fraction of the system, but critics argue that its expansion has contributed significantly to the crisis.
A state investigation and lawsuit have been filed against former county officials for using insider information to take over the fiber optic company serving data centers. Meanwhile, residents are filing class-action lawsuits against agribusinesses, with Amazon potentially included in the future.
The issue highlights the unintended consequences of the cloud economy and the importance of considering environmental impact when investing in new technologies. For many families in Morrow County, access to clean water has become a daily struggle, forcing them to make difficult choices about their health and well-being.
Source: https://en.as.com/meristation/news/water-is-under-threat-in-oregon-due-to-pollution-levels-and-massive-data-centers-are-in-the-crosshairs-f202511-n