Potential Health Impact of Data Centers in Oregon

In Morrow County, Oregon, which hosts sprawling mega farms and food processing facilities, concerns are rising about the presence of Amazon data centers and their impact on local water quality. These data centers are now suspected to play a significant role in dangerously increasing nitrate levels in the region's drinking water, a situation potentially linked to rising cases of cancer and miscarriages.

The Role of Amazon in Nitrate Contamination

An investigative report suggests that although Amazon avoids using harmful nitrates directly for cooling its servers, the company's activities may nonetheless intensify the contamination of the Lower Umatilla Basin aquifer. This aquifer is crucial as it provides the drinking water for local residents. The interplay of inadequate wastewater management, the region's sandy soil, and fundamental physics has resulted in nitrate levels soaring to 73 ppm in certain wells, a figure that sharply overshoots Oregon's safety threshold of 7 ppm and the federal standard.

Processes Exacerbating the Contamination

Experts argue that Amazon's establishment has significantly exacerbated the situation. The data centers draw tens of millions of gallons annually from the aquifer for cooling processes. The waste now laced with nitrates is subsequently redirected to local farms. However, since the soil is highly porous, excess nitrates quickly percolate back into the aquifer.

During the recycling process, when the polluted water is reused to cool IT equipment, only the water evaporates, leaving the nitrates behind. These nitrogen compounds thus remain concentrated, causing nitrate levels to escalate further, sometimes hitting 56 ppm, eightfold of Oregon’s permissible limits.

Amazon's Counterclaims and Community Concerns

Amazon, conversely, contests these claims. Company representative Lisa Levandowski expressed that the reports were 'misleading and inaccurate,' emphasizing that the proportion of water consumed and returned by Amazon facilities constitutes only a minor part of the broader water system, suggesting it cannot significantly affect overall water quality.

Levandowski further mentioned that the groundwater issues predate Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) presence in the area. Nonetheless, this raises queries about why Amazon chose to base operations in Morrow County, acknowledging its existing challenges in ensuring safe drinking water for its inhabitants.

Health Implications and Slow Response

The increase in nitrate concentration has been correlated with a spike in rare cancer cases and miscarriages. Unfortunately, efforts to curb the ongoing contamination and furnish a safe water supply have been ineffective or delay-ridden. With 40% of Morrow County's residents living under the poverty line, the severity and neglect of the situation draw parallels to the infamous water crisis in Flint, Michigan.

Kristin Ostrom from Oregon Rural Action highlights the vulnerability of residents, pointing to their lack of political influence and limited awareness regarding these risks, thereby necessitating urgent intervention and transparency.