Boardman residents push for city water as contamination concerns grow

Community members in Boardman, Oregon, are advocating for access to clean city water due to pervasive well water contamination affecting over 3,000 rural homes. This issue has been exacerbated by nearly four decades of pollution from the agriculture industry and more recently, concerns tied to the development of large-scale data centers. Oregon Rural Action, a local advocacy group, recently reached a $20.5 million settlement with Amazon concerning its alleged contributions to the area's environmental issues. Zaira Sanchez, an organizer with the group, stated that while the settlement is a significant first step, no monetary amount can truly compensate for the severe health impacts, including cancers and miscarriages, that residents like Benito Sanchez attribute to the unsafe water. Amazon acknowledged the settlement, stating it disagreed with the lawsuit's allegations but chose an early resolution to focus on community support rather than prolonged litigation. Residents expressed frustration that Amazon is constructing a pipeline for its new data center while many rural homes still lack clean drinking water, relying instead on a bottled water program. They urge officials to expedite the connection of city water to these affected homes.