‘The Precedent Is Flint’: How Oregon’s Data Center Boom Is Supercharging a Water Crisis – Rolling Stone

Report on the Morrow County Water Contamination Crisis and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

This report details a severe public health and environmental crisis in Morrow County, Oregon, stemming from extensive nitrate contamination of the primary groundwater source, the Lower Umatilla Basin. The situation represents a critical failure to achieve several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), most notably SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). The crisis is driven by unsustainable agricultural and industrial practices, exacerbated by the operations of large corporations, and compounded by significant governance failures and conflicts of interest among public officials.

I. Public Health Impacts and Failure to Achieve SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The contamination has led to a public health emergency, directly contravening the objectives of SDG 3. Residents have reported a high incidence of severe medical conditions linked to nitrate exposure.

Key Health Concerns Reported:

• Increased rates of cancers, including those typically associated with other risk factors.
• A significant number of miscarriages and reproductive health issues.
• Debilitating conditions in newborns and organ failure in adults.
• Chronic illnesses forcing residents into early retirement and requiring ongoing medical treatment.

The informal survey conducted by County Commissioner Jim Doherty in 2022 revealed a grim correlation between contaminated wells and adverse health outcomes, highlighting the community’s failure to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all residents.

II. Water Resource Degradation and Violation of SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The core of the crisis is the systemic pollution of the region’s sole aquifer, a direct violation of SDG 6, which calls for the availability and sustainable management of water. Since 1991, regulators have documented a steady increase in chemical toxins.

Sources and Mechanisms of Contamination:

1. Industrial Agriculture: Mega-farms and food processing plants utilize chemical fertilizers and generate nitrogen-rich wastewater.
2. Wastewater Management: The Port of Morrow operates a system that recycles nitrogen-laden industrial wastewater by spraying it back onto farmland as fertilizer. This practice over-saturates the porous soil, causing nitrates to leach directly into the aquifer.
3. Testing Results: In 2022, testing initiated by Commissioner Doherty found that a vast majority of private wells exceeded the federal safety limit for nitrates (10 parts per million), with some readings reaching nearly four times that level.

This situation underscores a complete breakdown in the sustainable management of water resources, denying thousands of residents their fundamental right to safe drinking water.

III. Unsustainable Economic Models and Corporate Responsibility (SDG 8, SDG 11, SDG 12)

The crisis is rooted in an economic development model that prioritizes industrial growth without accounting for environmental and social costs, undermining SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Role of Industrial Agriculture:

Large agricultural operators, including Lamb Weston and Threemile Canyon Farms, have transformed the region through intensive farming reliant on chemical fertilizers. The Port of Morrow’s wastewater reuse program, while framed as recycling, institutionalizes an unsustainable production cycle that directly pollutes the shared water supply.

Impact of Amazon Web Services (AWS) Data Centers:

• Water Consumption: AWS data centers consume millions of gallons of water annually for cooling servers, placing further stress on the aquifer.
• Nitrate Concentration: The cooling process involves evaporation, which does not remove nitrates. Consequently, the water discharged from AWS facilities back into the Port’s wastewater system has a significantly higher concentration of nitrates, exacerbating the pollution cycle. Water entering the facilities with nitrate levels above the federal limit was discharged with concentrations as high as 56 ppm, eight times Oregon’s safety limit.
• Economic Incentives: Amazon has received billions of dollars in tax abatements to operate in the county, creating a dynamic where economic benefits are prioritized over the community’s right to a safe and sustainable environment.

IV. Governance Failures and Erosion of Justice (SDG 10 & SDG 16)

A profound failure of governance, accountability, and justice lies at the heart of the Morrow County crisis, undermining SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). The burden of the crisis falls disproportionately on low-income communities, many of whom are farmhands and factory workers living in poverty.

Conflicts of Interest and Lack of Accountability:

1. Self-Dealing by Public Officials: An investigation by the Oregon Attorney General alleges that key public officials, including the former general manager of the Port of Morrow, used their positions to enrich themselves. They allegedly acquired a local fiber optic company, Windwave, at a fraction of its value by leveraging insider knowledge of forthcoming contracts with Amazon, while simultaneously negotiating tax abatements for the tech giant.
2. Institutional Inaction: State agencies, including the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), have been criticized for a slow and inadequate response, issuing fines that have failed to halt the polluting practices.
3. Suppression of Dissent: Commissioners Jim Doherty and Melissa Lindsay, who declared a state of emergency and raised concerns about the conflicts of interest, were targeted by a recall campaign supported by local business interests and were subsequently removed from office.

These events demonstrate a systemic breakdown of strong, accountable institutions and have deepened inequalities by sacrificing the health of vulnerable populations for private and corporate financial gain.

V. Legal Recourse and the Path to Remediation

In response to institutional failures, residents and state authorities are pursuing legal action to establish accountability and seek remediation.

Current Legal Actions:

• Attorney General Lawsuit: The Oregon Attorney General has filed a civil suit against the public officials involved in the Windwave deal, seeking a minimum of $6.9 million in damages for abusing the public trust for personal financial gain.
• Class-Action Lawsuit: A federal class-action suit has been filed by residents against the Port of Morrow and major agricultural operators. The suit may be expanded to include Amazon, which received a formal notice under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act demanding it cease improper disposal of hazardous industrial wastewater.

These legal challenges represent a critical effort to enforce environmental laws and secure justice for the affected communities, aligning with the principles of SDG 16.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article extensively discusses the severe health consequences for the residents of Morrow County due to nitrate-contaminated water. It mentions “unexplained medical conditions, including diseases and cancers that usually afflicted the elderly,” as well as specific issues like “young women enduring miscarriages and middle-aged men with organ failure.” The link between nitrate consumption and increased risks of cancer and debilitating conditions in newborns is also highlighted, directly connecting the environmental issue to human health and well-being.
2. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • This is the central SDG addressed in the article. The core issue is the contamination of the Lower Umatilla Basin, the “only source of water for as many as 45,000 residents,” with nitrates from chemical fertilizers and industrial wastewater. The article details how private wells are tainted, making the water unsafe for drinking and violating the fundamental right to clean water.
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • The article points to a significant inequality in how the water crisis affects different segments of the population. It notes that those most affected are “farmhands and factory workers who were reliant on well water,” many of whom live below the poverty line. In contrast, wealthier “farm managers and factory executives” often live in areas with city water pipes that draw from deeper, less contaminated parts of the aquifer. This disparity in impact based on economic status is a clear link to SDG 10.
4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • The pollution is a direct result of unsustainable production patterns. The article describes how “megafarms and food processing plants” use massive inputs of fertilizer and generate millions of gallons of wastewater. The Port of Morrow’s practice of recycling this “nitrogen-dense water back out onto the farms” and spraying fields even during non-growing seasons represents an environmentally unsound management of waste and chemicals, directly related to this goal.
5. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • The article highlights a failure of governance and institutions. It details how local officials engaged in conflicts of interest for personal financial gain, as seen in the Windwave scandal. It also describes the slow response from state agencies like the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the recall of commissioners who tried to address the crisis, and the general lack of accountability for the polluters. This points to a breakdown in effective, accountable, and transparent institutions.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.
     
     The article directly addresses this target by describing the illnesses linked to nitrate contamination. The informal survey conducted by Jim Doherty found “at least 25 miscarriages and a half dozen people living with one kidney” in just 30 homes, illustrating the high rate of illness from water pollution.
2. Under SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
     
     The situation in Morrow County is a clear failure to meet this target. Residents relying on private wells do not have access to safe drinking water, forcing the county to provide emergency bottled water and filtration kits. The article states that of 70 wells tested by Doherty, “68 violated the safety threshold.”
   • Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials…
     
     The article’s focus on nitrate pollution from “chemical fertilizers used by the megafarms and food processing plants” and the Port of Morrow’s practice of spraying contaminated wastewater onto farmland directly relates to this target. The “slow and steady increase of chemical toxins in the water” since 1991 shows a worsening, not an improvement, of water quality.
3. Under SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle… and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
     
     The Port of Morrow’s wastewater management system, which concentrates nitrates and reapplies them to land in a way that pollutes the aquifer, is a direct example of failing to achieve environmentally sound waste management. The article notes that the DEQ issued “more than a thousand violations and more than $3 million in fines against the Port for excessive spraying of nitrate-laden water.”
4. Under SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • Target 16.5: Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms.
     
     The detailed account of public officials on the Windwave board using their positions to negotiate deals with Amazon while setting themselves up for a “personal financial gain” is a clear example of corruption. The Oregon Attorney General’s lawsuit alleges they “abused their authority and breached the public trust.”
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.
     
     The article demonstrates institutional failure. The DEQ’s inability to halt the pollution for decades, the Port of Morrow’s repeated violations, and the Oregon Ethics Commission’s minimal penalties for officials with conflicts of interest all point to a lack of effective and accountable institutions.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Quantitative Indicators Mentioned:
   • Nitrate Concentration Levels: The article provides specific measurements in parts per million (ppm). Examples include the federal limit (10 ppm), Oregon’s state limit (7 ppm), measured levels in wells (as high as 73 ppm), and a resident’s water testing at 55.7 ppm. This is a direct indicator for water quality (Target 6.3) and exposure to hazardous chemicals (Target 3.9).
   • Number of Contaminated Wells: The article states that in one round of testing, 68 out of 70 wells violated the safety threshold. It also mentions that by September 2022, “248 additional homes had been found to have nitrate levels above the state’s safety limit.” This measures the scale of the failure to provide safe water (Target 6.1).
   • Number of Regulatory Violations and Fines: The article notes that the DEQ has issued “more than a thousand violations and more than $3 million in fines against the Port of Morrow.” This serves as an indicator of non-compliance with environmental regulations (Target 12.4).
   • Financial Figures in Corruption Case: The Attorney General’s lawsuit seeks “$6.9 million in damages” from the officials involved in the Windwave deal, representing the difference between the undervalued sale price and the company’s actual worth. This quantifies the scale of the alleged corruption (Target 16.5).
2. Qualitative/Implied Indicators:
   • Incidence of Health Problems: While not a formal scientific study, the article’s anecdotal evidence of “25 miscarriages” and numerous cases of cancer and kidney failure in a small sample of homes implies a high incidence of diseases linked to water contamination, which could be formally tracked as an indicator for Target 3.9.
   • Reliance on Alternative Water Sources: The county’s expenditure of “$500,000” on emergency measures, including “bottled water” and “water trucks for well users,” is an indicator of the failure to provide safe tap water (Target 6.1).
   • Public Trust and Participation: The packed town hall meetings, the recall of the commissioners, and the formation of lawsuits by residents are indicators of community engagement and a breakdown of trust in public institutions (relevant to Target 16.6).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: rollingstone.com