Oregon Data Centers Linked to Cancer and Miscarriage Risk
▼ Summary
– Amazon data centers in Morrow County, Oregon are contributing to high nitrate levels in the drinking water, which is linked to increased cancer and miscarriage rates.
– The data centers use millions of gallons of water from the aquifer for cooling, and the returned wastewater increases nitrate concentrations when it is reused on farms and re-enters the water system.
– Nitrate levels in some wells reach 73 ppm, far exceeding state and federal safety limits of 7 ppm, due to the cycle of water use and contamination.
– Amazon disputes the claims, stating their water usage is a small fraction of the system and that groundwater issues existed before their presence.
– The crisis disproportionately affects low-income residents with limited political power, drawing comparisons to Flint, Michigan, and efforts to provide safe water have been slow.
Nestled within Oregon’s Morrow County, a region traditionally known for its expansive farms and food processing facilities, a new and concerning issue is emerging. The arrival of several Amazon data centers is now being linked to a dangerous increase in nitrate levels within the local drinking water supply. Experts suggest this contamination is contributing to a troubling rise in both cancer diagnoses and miscarriage rates among the area’s residents.
An in-depth investigation reveals a complex environmental problem. While Amazon’s data centers do not directly use nitrates for their cooling processes, their operations are accelerating the pollution of the vital Lower Umatilla Basin aquifer. The issue stems from a combination of factors: the centers consume tens of millions of gallons of water annually for cooling, which then enters the local wastewater system. This nitrate-laden wastewater is subsequently used for irrigation on nearby farms. The region’s porous, sandy soil cannot contain the pollutants, allowing them to seep back down into the groundwater source.
The problem is further intensified by the data centers’ own water cycle. They draw water that is already contaminated with nitrates, sometimes at levels exceeding federal safety limits, to cool their servers. During this process, a portion of the water evaporates, but the nitrates do not. This leaves the remaining water with an even higher concentration of pollutants before it is returned to the wastewater system. In some instances, the water re-entering the system has been measured with nitrate levels averaging 56 parts per million, a figure that is eight times higher than the state’s safety threshold.
Amazon has publicly challenged this narrative. A company spokesperson described the reports as “misleading and inaccurate,” asserting that the volume of water their facilities use and return represents only a minor fraction of the overall local water system. The company maintains that this small fraction is not substantial enough to cause a meaningful impact on water quality. They also pointed out that the area’s groundwater challenges existed long before Amazon Web Services established a presence there.
Despite these corporate statements, the human health impact is becoming increasingly clear. The elevated nitrate concentrations in the drinking water are being connected to a surge in rare cancers and pregnancy loss. Community advocates highlight that the response to this growing public health crisis has been slow and insufficient. The situation is drawing comparisons to other high-profile water contamination disasters, with a significant portion of the county’s population living in poverty and possessing limited political influence to demand immediate action.
(Source: The Verge)
