A Montana rancher named Jim Doherty has claimed that his investigation into water quality near an Amazon data center in Oregon uncovered serious issues with nitrate contamination. The facility, which requires massive amounts of water for cooling, is said by the rancher to have allegedly worsened water pollution.
Doherty reported discovering that 68 out of 70 local wells exceeded federal limits for nitrates in drinking water after testing them himself and working with county officials. He also noted a rise in serious health problems, including cases of cancer and miscarriages among residents on his road.
Amazon’s representative has stated that the data center draws from the same municipal source as other community members and uses minimal amounts of water—only a small fraction of the total supply—which they say is insufficient to significantly affect water quality. However, Doherty believes this explanation does not account for recent health incidents among local residents.
An activist group drawing parallels with historical crises like Flint emphasized that these communities often lack political or economic influence when such issues arise, making them vulnerable without proper recourse.
