Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater
Local, state, and federal agencies, including EPA, are working in Oregon’s Lower Umatilla Basin to address sources of nitrate contamination in groundwater.
Summary
EPA has received a petition (see "Documents" below) requesting that EPA take emergency action in accordance with EPA’s emergency authority under the Safe Drinking Water Act to address elevated nitrate concentrations in public water systems and underground sources of drinking water in the Lower Umatilla Basin.
Why is Nitrate a Concern?
Nitrate is an "acute contaminant" meaning that one exposure can affect a person's health. Too much nitrate in your body makes it harder for red blood cells to carry oxygen.
Most people recover quickly after being exposed to nitrate, but it can be very dangerous for infants and some adults. Infants exposed to high amounts of nitrate may develop a potentially fatal condition known as "blue baby syndrome."
EPA's drinking water standard - or “maximum contaminant level” (MCL) - for nitrate is 10 mg/L (parts per million, or ppm). Unlike many other substances for which a standard has been set by EPA, there is no “safety factor” built into the nitrate MCL.
To learn more about nitrate, read the Oregon Health Authority's fact sheet: Nitrate in Drinking Water (pdf).
Documents
- EPA Correspondence with Oregon Agencies Re: Nitrate Reduction Plan (pdf)
- Lower Umatilla Basin Petition for Emergency Action Pursuant to the Safe Drinking Water Act (pdf)
Additional related documents are available on EPA's file sharing site.
Contacts
- Stephen Fitzner (fitzner.stephen@epa.gov), 208-378-5764