Amazon Agrees To Settle $20.5M Class Action Lawsuit Over Data Center Pollution In Eastern Oregon

Amazon has agreed to a $20.5 million settlement in a class action lawsuit alleging its data centers in Eastern Oregon contributed to nitrate pollution in the groundwater of the Lower Umatilla Basin. The lawsuit, brought forward by residents of Morrow and Umatilla Counties, centered on claims that millions of gallons of wastewater from Amazon's operations and other facilities accelerated the movement of nitrates into the drinking water supply. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has been monitoring nitrate levels in the groundwater since 1991, noting a steady increase. While the initial rise in nitrates was attributed to chemical fertilizer runoff from mega farms, the lawsuit contended that the significant water usage by data centers for cooling server equipment intensified the pollution problem. Amazon, through spokesperson Kylee Yonas, denied all allegations of wrongdoing and any contribution to groundwater contamination. However, the company opted to settle the class action lawsuit to avoid a lengthy legal battle and redirect its resources towards community support rather than litigation. The $20.5 million settlement is pending court approval. Local resident Kathy Mendoza, who suffers from a joint and muscle condition she attributes to the nitrates, expressed skepticism about the settlement's impact, stating, "That money won’t go that far when you consider how vast that problem is."