Specifications include, but are not limited to: The goal of the project is to characterize the nitrate concentrations in Morrow and Umatilla Counties through additional well sampling, outreach to domestic well users, and evaluation of opportunities to connect well users to public water systems and identify other alternatives for providing safe drinking water to affected residents. Work to be accomplished includes characterizing the nitrate contamination issues in domestic groundwater wells. Information gained will be used to understand the extent and severity of the problem to develop potential solutions. Impacted wells will be evaluated for short-term and longterm management options. The objective of the project is to understand the spatial extent of the nitrate contamination and identify where connection to public/community water systems is feasible. Wells will be tested with the potential for follow-up sampling based on the initial results. Data collected through the project will be integrated with relevant data from previous sampling events into a usable database and GIS for ongoing tracking, analysis, and for a preliminary planning-level engineering analysis to evaluate alternatives for well owners impacted by the nitrate contamination. The project will also educate domestic well users, and the community at large, about regional nitrate hazards, impacts on domestic wells, and opportunities to participate in well sampling under the project. To identify areas where a connection to public/community water systems is feasible, a database of sampled wells and geographic information system (GIS) layer(s) showing spatial analysis of nitrate levels will be developed. Community members will be made aware of nitrate contamination issues and how to protect their health through bilingual outreach materials. To evaluate alternatives, and the feasibility of making connections to existing community water systems, an alternatives analysis using selected evaluation criteria along with an action plan (preliminary engineering report) will also be developed for community members and the county governments involved. This will allow them to develop plans to mitigate nitrate contamination and, if possible, expand public water systems to areas of the county that are accessible. The next stage of the project will be to coordinate with local cities about implementing potential solutions.
