Morrow and Umatilla County Drinking Water Investigation

Background
Morrow and Umatilla Counties in Oregon are facing significant challenges with nitrate contamination in groundwater, particularly affecting domestic wells. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has identified the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area (LUBGWMA) as a region with elevated nitrate levels, prompting the need for a comprehensive Drinking Water Investigation Study. Morrow County has secured $1.7 million in funding for this project, with approximately $1.3 million allocated for engineering services to address these water quality issues and develop alternatives for safe drinking water supply.

Work Details
The contract will involve several key tasks:

1) Development of a Work Plan and Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) to outline project scope and data quality objectives;

2) Outreach and communications to educate domestic well users about nitrate contamination;

3) Field data collection and laboratory coordination to gather water samples;

4) Data management and processing to create a usable database and GIS for ongoing tracking;

5) Data evaluation and characterization to assess nitrate levels;

6) Alternatives analysis to explore options for providing clean drinking water, including potential connections to public systems or individual treatment solutions;

7) Development of an action plan that includes preliminary engineering reports detailing recommended solutions.

Period of Performance
The work is expected to commence upon contract award and must be completed by August 1, 2026, coinciding with the expiration of the EPA grant on September 30, 2026.

Place of Performance
The services will be performed within Morrow and Umatilla Counties in Oregon, specifically targeting areas within the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area.