Thomas Metcalf | Oct 1, 2024

BOARDMAN, Ore. - Oregon Rural Action (ORA), an organization pushing for the decontamination of nitrate-contaminated drinking water in the Lower Umatilla Basin, released a map detailing the level of contamination in various areas.

The map uses information gathered from federal and state agencies on the sources of pollution affecting groundwater and air quality in the Lower Umatilla Basin.

The map states that exceptionally high levels of nitrate contamination were found in the 97818 zip code (Boardman), with 68.8 percent of the 176 tested wells deemed unsafe. Zip code 97882 (Umatilla) also sees very high rates with 56.5 percent of the 69 tested wells deemed unsafe.

Zip codes 97875 (Stanfield) and 97844 (Irrigon) also have high rates of nitrate contamination with more than 50 percent of all wells in each area being either at-risk or unsafe.