{"id":2524234,"date":"2025-12-23T08:29:01","date_gmt":"2025-12-23T13:29:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/oregon-cattle-rancher-accuses-amazon-data-center-of-poisoning-local-water-supply\/"},"modified":"2025-12-23T08:33:40","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T13:33:40","slug":"oregon-cattle-rancher-accuses-amazon-data-center-of-poisoning-local-water-supply","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/oregon-cattle-rancher-accuses-amazon-data-center-of-poisoning-local-water-supply\/","title":{"rendered":"Oregon Cattle Rancher Accuses Amazon Data Center of Poisoning Local Water Supply"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Foregon-cattle-rancher-accuses-amazon-data-center-of-poisoning-local-water-supply%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2524234&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In Morrow County, Oregon, rancher and former county commissioner Jim Doherty has raised alarm about worsening health problems-cancers, miscarriages and organ failures-since an Amazon data center opened there in 2011. The county relies on a single aquifer that supplies roughly 45,000 residents, many via private wells. Doherty tested household tap water and found widespread nitrate contamination: an initial six samples exceeded federal limits, and of 70 additional kits he purchased, 68 also violated standards, averaging about four times the legal limit. An informal survey of 30 homes reported numerous miscarriages and other serious health issues. Rolling Stone&#8217;s reporting links increased water withdrawals by data centers (used for AI computing) to faster movement of nitrogen from fertilizers into groundwater, though Amazon denies duty, saying nitrate problems predate its presence and are driven by agriculture, septic systems and food processing.The case highlights broader controversy over data centers&#8217; local impacts on water resources and community health.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>After Amazon built a data center in Morrow County, Oregon, in 2011, one local rancher claims that environmental health issues have been worsening in the area.<\/p>\n<p>Jim Doherty, who has been running a cattle ranch business with his wife for the past 25 years, kept having conversations with neighbors about healthy adults coming down with cancers and other illnesses, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/culture\/culture-features\/data-center-water-pollution-amazon-oregon-1235466613\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">report<\/a> from Rolling Stone.<\/p>\n<p>Doherty, who also served as a county commissioner for Morrow County, suspected that the ground water had been contaminated with nitrates.<\/p>\n<p>There is a single aquifer under Morrow County that supplies water for 45,000 residents, largely through private wells.<\/p>\n<p>When he heard about women enduring miscarriages and middle-aged men experiencing organ failure, Doherty decided to take action.<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() { \t\t\t\t\tfunction loadScript(src) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst script=document.createElement(\"script\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.src=src; \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.async=true; \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.body.appendChild(script); \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\tfunction findPreviousParagraph(selector, x) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst targetElement=document.querySelector(selector); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!targetElement) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Target element not found.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Get all <\/p>\n<p> elements in order as they appear in the document \t\t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphs=Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\"p\"));  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the index of the last <\/p>\n<p> before the target element \t\t\t\t\t\tlet targetIndex=paragraphs.findIndex(p=> p.compareDocumentPosition(targetElement) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_PRECEDING);  \t\t\t\t\t\tif (targetIndex===-1 || targetIndex <x) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Not enough paragraphs before the target element.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\treturn paragraphs[targetIndex - x]; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Set up IntersectionObserver \t\t\t\t\tfunction observeElement(element) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!element) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst observer=new IntersectionObserver( \t\t\t\t\t\t\t(entries)=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tentries.forEach(entry=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tif (entry.isIntersecting) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log(\"Paragraph is now visible:\", entry.target.textContent.trim()); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloadScript(\"https:\/\/embed.sendtonews.com\/player3\/embedcode.js?fk=s28Az7AY\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.disconnect(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t}, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t{ threshold: 0.5 } \/\/ Adjust threshold as needed \t\t\t\t\t\t);  \t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.observe(element); \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the 1st paragraph before #stnvideo and observe it \t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphToObserve=findPreviousParagraph(\"#stnvideo\", 2); \t\t\t\t\tobserveElement(paragraphToObserve); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>According to Rolling Stone, he decided to take <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nearly-half-of-u-s-tap-water-contains-forever-chemicals-government-study-finds\/\" title=\"Government study finds nearly 50% of U.S. ... ... has &#039;forever chemicals&#039;.\">tap water samples<\/a> from six random homes, and a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >nearby testing laboratory informed<\/a> him that all of the samples had excess nitrates relative to federal limits.<\/p>\n<p>He bought 70 more test kits, and 68 violated the federal limits as well, averaging four times that standard.<\/p>\n<p>Doherty took an informal survey of the first 30 homes he sampled.<\/p>\n<p>Among those homes, there were 25 miscarriages, and six people were living with a single kidney, not to mention at least one case of an unusual cancer.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;One man about 60 years old had his voice box taken out because of a cancer that only smokers get, but that guy hadn&rsquo;t smoked a day of his life,&rdquo; Doherty told Rolling Stone.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">How Oregon&rsquo;s Data Center Boom Is Supercharging a Water Crisis<\/p>\n<p>Amazon has come to the state&rsquo;s eastern farmland, worsening a water pollution problem that&rsquo;s been linked to cancer and miscarriages.<\/p>\n<p>Rolling Stone reports in collaboration with <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FERNnews?\">@fernnews<\/a>: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Q9nxZEk5O1\">https:\/\/t.co\/Q9nxZEk5O1<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Y19HueX9HZ\">pic.twitter.com\/Y19HueX9HZ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RollingStone\/status\/1993127834605240353?\">November 25, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Data centers, which are used for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-biden-to-hit-china-with-broader-curbs-on-u-s-chip-and-tool-exports-sources\/\" title=\"Exclusive-Biden to hit China with broader curbs on U.S. chip and tool exports -sources\">artificial intelligence computing<\/a>, are provoking nationwide controversy for their alleged impact on communities where they are built, especially because they tap into often limited water supplies and reportedly cause energy prices to increase.<\/p>\n<p>Rolling Stone reported that, in essence, more water usage from data centers causes nitrogen from chemical fertilizers to enter the groundwater faster.<\/p>\n<p>Amazon denied that the data center had a role in the health crisis.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The truth is that this region has long-documented groundwater quality challenges that significantly predate AWS&rsquo; presence, and federal, state, and local agencies have spent years working to address nitrates from agricultural fertilizer, manure, septic systems, and wastewater from food processing plants,&rdquo; Amazon representative Lisa Levandowski asserted.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Our data centers draw water from the same supply as other community members; nitrates are not an additive we use in any of our processes, and the volume of water our facilities use and return represents only a very small fraction of the overall water system &mdash; not enough to have any meaningful impact on water quality,&rdquo; she added.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ]; 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