“Running Out of Safe Water”: Nitrates Contaminate Boardman Wells

For decades, the wells around Boardman, Oregon supplied farm families and workers with clear, cold water. Today, test results tell a different story — rising nitrate levels linked to industrial wastewater and fertilizer runoff. Despite million-dollar fines and public assurances, state data and a new federal lawsuit suggest a deeper crisis: groundwater that may no longer be safe to drink. Residents, regulators, and industry leaders are locked in a battle over who is responsible, and how soon clean water can be restored.