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Polk

Polk County includes the Luckiamute, Rickreall, and Ash Creek watersheds. There are four major rivers that flow in and through Polk County, Luckiamute River, Little Luckiamute River, Little Nestucca River, and the tributary, the Willamette River. cities. The Indigenous tribes that reside here are Luckiamute, Kalapuya, Confederated Tribes of Siletz, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla.

What people are talking about

Polk County has multiple initiatives to maintain clean water, including upgrading wastewater treatment pods, collaborating with stakeholders, and improving filtration (Itemizer Observer, 2023). Meanwhile, Polk County will continue to do a vast amount of water testing to ensure drinking water is safe. Nitrite leaks are a concern. Residents with wells are at higher risk since groundwater is their only water source, and contaminants can be picked up. There may be some disagreements/arguments about whether the contamination's source is the responsibility of large corporations. For example, a potato plant in Polk County contaminated an already slightly contaminated aquifer with tons of nitrogen. This resulted in unfit drinking water conditions to the federal standards (State Fines Hermiston Potato Processing Plant for Groundwater Contamination, 2022). While nitrogen is naturally found in the Earth, too much of it can be toxic (State Fine Hermiston Potato Processing Plant for Groundwater, n.d.). Polk County has multiple initiatives to maintain clean water, including upgrading wastewater treatment pods, collaborating with stakeholders, and improving filtration (Itemizer Observer, n.d.). Meanwhile, Polk County will continue to do a vast amount of water testing to ensure drinking water is safe. Contamination of water in Polk County has led to the rework of wastewater treatment plants to ensure the water cycle stays clean (Itemizer Observer, n.d.). To make wastewater improvements, funding, and staff are needed. The impact on residents is they will likely see a slight increase in the water rates. Officials may encourage residents to use less water and in some cases file water restrictions. Reduced access to water and water contamination can lead to water scarcity. Both contamination and water scarcity can lead to an increased health concern for residents, and an unfit environment for aquatic life. This is an example of the interconnectedness of water contamination and scarcity. Strategies the county has implemented to replenish its water supply include reassessing dam structures, improving the communication of water on a local and federal level, and funding water supply projects that they hope will improve their supply (Polk County Regional Water Supply Planning Water scarcity has been an ongoing issue in Polk County. Officials are proposing that their current water supply may not last as long as estimated (Itemizer-Observer, n.d.). This impacts communities in different ways, some examples of this are health issues, economic repercussions, and water restrictions. Farmers tend to have a harder time dealing with the impacts of water scarcity due to the vast amount of water that is used for agriculture and livestock. Water scarcity is leading to water restrictions which for some farmers, lead to economic repercussions if they plan to sell goods. Other economic repercussions could include an increase in water rates to make up for less water. There's some disagreement on the increase in water rates but Polk County officials have held multiple meetings that have been open to the public so residents could voice their concerns (Notice of Budget Meeting for the Buell Prairie Water District, n.d.). Strategies the county have implemented to replenish its water supply include reassessing dam structures, improving the communication of water on a local and federal level, and funding water supply projects that they hope will improve their supply (Polk County Regional Water Supply Planning | Polk County Oregon Official Website, n.d.).

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