Amazon invests in irrigation efficiency projects with Irrigon’s West Extension Irrigation District
By Dan Thesman on Tuesday, August 18th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
IRRIGON — Amazon has announced an investment exceeding $390,000 in three irrigation efficiency projects with eastern Oregon’s West Extension Irrigation District, aiming to curb water loss across Umatilla and Morrow counties.
The $1.09 million effort, funded alongside the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART program and district funds, will conserve roughly 530 million gallons of water annually upon completion in March 2028. That annual savings nearly equals the total water consumed by the neighboring city of Umatilla in 2025 and doubles the 2024 water usage of Amazon’s local data centers.
The initiative targets water loss by replacing aging measurement systems and converting open, unlined canals — which suffer from heavy evaporation and seepage — into pipelines. Main canal flow controls will save an estimated 171 million gallons, canal piping and sprinkler upgrades will save 100 million gallons, and customer delivery point metering replacements will save 260 million gallons by reducing over-pumping.
The conserved water will remain in the Umatilla and Columbia rivers, benefiting local fish habitats while lowering pumping expenses for the district’s 1,050 customers across 11,400 acres.
“The Amazon funding has allowed us to complete these water conservation projects years ahead of what the district could afford,” West Extension Irrigation District Manager Bev Bridgewater explains. “By replacing the old open ditch and out-of-date systems, we are working together to make a measurable impact on regional sustainability. In a nutshell, these projects fix old equipment, cut water waste and protect our shared resources. We are very thankful for these funds.”
The projects build toward Amazon’s broader goal of becoming water positive by 2030.
Photo: Submerged booster station intake screens. Used when the canal is full to pump water and transition it into pressurized sprinkler irrigation. (Courtesy Amazon)
