Morrow County Residents Clash Over Drinking Water Solutions

Tensions rise as community group demands polluters pay for water infrastructure

Mar. 14, 2026 at 5:00am

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Morrow County residents are at odds over how to address the issue of nitrate contamination in the local drinking water supply. While the Morrow County Clean Water Consortium is seeking grants to extend water systems and provide individualized solutions, a community group called West Glen United is demanding that the polluters, not the residents, pay for the necessary infrastructure. This has led to a public clash during a recent consortium meeting, with the two sides debating the issue of causation and responsibility.

Why it matters

Access to clean drinking water is a fundamental human right, but many rural communities in Oregon struggle with contamination issues. This dispute highlights the complex challenges of addressing water quality problems, including determining responsibility, securing funding, and balancing the needs and preferences of different stakeholder groups.

The details

The Morrow County Clean Water Consortium is pursuing two grant applications - one for $2 million to establish new public water systems, and another for $1.45 million to provide individualized solutions for homes with nitrate contamination. However, residents of the West Glen neighborhood in Boardman do not want to pay to join the city's water system, arguing that they did not pollute the groundwater and should not have to bear the cost of the solution. The community group, West Glen United, has requested to meet directly with the consortium's board to advocate for their position, but the board has not yet accommodated this request.

  • The Morrow County Clean Water Consortium met on March 10, 2026 to discuss updates on their efforts.
  • In the fall of 2025, the consortium held community outreach meetings where West Glen residents first presented their requests.
  • The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality published a report in 2020 estimating the sources of nitrate pollution in the area.

The players

Morrow County Clean Water Consortium

A group focused on getting clean water to residents through pipe extensions and new water systems.

West Glen United

A community group formed by residents of the West Glen neighborhood in Boardman to advocate for their preferences regarding water infrastructure.

Kristin Ostrom

Executive Director of the Oregon Rural Action, a community action group speaking on behalf of West Glen United.

Justin Green

Executive Director of Water for Eastern Oregon (H2OEO), who disputed the claims about pollution causation.

Matt Jensen

Morrow County Administrator, who offered to meet with West Glen United to better understand their group.

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What they’re saying

“They've already paid with their health, their property values, digging deeper wells, well maintenance, filters, et cetera. They're expecting to be put back in the same place that they were before the harm.”

— Kristin Ostrom, Executive Director, Oregon Rural Action

“Implying pollution was imposed on other people, it's completely inappropriate in my opinion at this point. Causation, that's going to be determined in another forum, and there's not a conclusive definition of that right now.”

— Justin Green, Executive Director, Water for Eastern Oregon

What’s next

The Morrow County Clean Water Consortium and representatives from West Glen United are planning to meet in the next two months to further discuss the community's preferences and how to address the drinking water issues.

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the complex challenges of addressing water quality problems in rural communities, including determining responsibility, securing funding, and balancing the needs and preferences of different stakeholder groups. Resolving these issues will require open communication, collaboration, and a commitment to finding equitable solutions that prioritize access to clean and affordable drinking water for all residents.