Large-scale Amazon data centers are being linked to a deepening groundwater contamination crisis in a rural Oregon county, with experts pointing to the facilities’ cooling operations as drivers of escalating nitrate levels in local drinking water.
This contamination is raising alarms over associated health risks, including rare cancers and increased miscarriages in Morrow County.
A report by Rolling Stone and environmental experts highlights that while Amazon’s data centers do not directly use harmful nitrates, their cooling systems inadvertently concentrate existing nitrates in local aquifers.
These facilities draw tens of millions of gallons of water annually for cooling their servers. As the water evaporates during this process, nitrates, which do not evaporate, become more concentrated in the remaining discharge.
This highly concentrated wastewater, with some samples showing 73 parts per million (ppm) of nitrates—ten times higher than Oregon’s 7 ppm safety standard—is then released. After wastewater treatment, it is often used on local farms.
However, the area’s sandy, porous soil allows this water to quickly seep back into the groundwater system, which is a primary source of drinking water for residents. This creates a dangerous feedback loop.
Amazon facilities frequently draw water that already exceeds federal nitrate limits. Their cooling process further elevates these levels, with discharged water sometimes averaging 56 ppm, eight times Oregon’s safety limit.
Morrow County, historically known for agriculture and food processing, has become a hub for numerous Amazon data centers in recent years.
The escalating situation is drawing comparisons to the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. This comparison is particularly poignant given that over 40% of Morrow County residents live below the poverty line.
Amazon spokesperson Lisa Levandowski has disputed the findings, calling the report “misleading and inaccurate.”
Levandowski stated that Amazon’s water use and discharge represent a minor fraction of the overall water system, suggesting it is insufficient to cause significant impact. She also noted that groundwater issues in the area predated the establishment of Amazon Web Services (AWS) operations.
The controversy underscores a growing tension between rapid technological expansion and the public health of communities affected by large-scale infrastructure projects.