Central Oregon Times

Morrow County issued the following announcement on June 18. 

Morrow County, in partnership with the Oregon Department of Human Services, is providing water safe for drinking and cooking to Morrow County residents with high nitrate levels in their domestic wells.

“If your household relies on a domestic well for drinking water, and that well has tested high (above 10 mg/L) for nitrates, you are eligible to receive free water during this emergency,” said Paul Gray, the county’s emergency manager. “If you haven't yet tested but live in the area with problem wells you are encouraged to seek safe water while you secure testing.”

Temporary water distribution sites:

Boardman

• Public Health Department, 101 Boardman Ave. NW
• Begins Tuesday, June 21
• Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. until noon and 1 to 6 p.m.
• Fridays, 10 a.m. until noon and 1 to 4 p.m.
• Providing bottled water

Irrigon

• County Government Building in Irrigon, 215 NE Main Ave.
• Begins Tuesday, June 21
• Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. until noon and 1 to 6 p.m.
• Fridays, 10 a.m. until noon and 1 to 4 p.m.
• Providing bottled water

At each location, if you have a test kit for your well, please bring the results. If you don’t have test results, you will be asked to provide:

• Phone number
• Address
• Number of people living in the household

How much water is available and its use

• Water is available for drinking and cooking only. 
• Water is limited to two gallons per person for each day, equaling 14 gallons per person for a week. 
• We will keep track so that people can come back if they cannot transport all their water at once.
• We will supply water for multiple days, people do not need to return every day to get water. 
• Bottled water will be provided to households until water distribution sites can be established to allow filling of reusable containers.
• Bottled water will continue to be provided to households that are unable to get water from the distribution sites. Reasons include lack of transportation, and mobility issues getting in and out of vehicles and using the equipment at the site. Call 541-256-0514 to be placed on the water delivery list. The bottled water is already in Morrow County and ready for delivery.

“The Oregon Department of Human Services is providing bottled water as part of its role to provide water and other essentials during emergencies,” said Cory Jones, ODHS Regional Emergency Coordinator for Central and Eastern Oregon. “Water is already being delivered to homes with people unable to travel. We have sufficient supply staged in the area and are able to quickly secure additional water as needed.”

“We appreciate the partnership with ODHS and others that have made it possible to quickly offer safe water to our residents for drinking and cooking,” Commissioner Jim Doherty said. “We urge people to take action to test their domestic wells and to use this safe water until their well is made safe for drinking and cooking.”

 

“Our main concern is for people who use private drinking water wells,” said Gray.  “These wells are not regulated and the responsibility of the well owner.”

“City or community drinking water systems are tested regularly. These water sources have not shown high levels of nitrate and are safe to cook with and drink from.” Gray said.

Morrow County is coordinating with the Oregon Office of Emergency Management, the Oregon Department of Human Services, the Department of Environmental Quality, the Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Health Authority to provide potable water to those in immediate need and to let residents know how to protect themselves.

For more on county response efforts, go to https://www.co.morrow.or.us/emergency/page/nitrate-emergency

Original source can be found here.