West Glen group sets conditions for city water connection
By Griffin Beach on Wednesday, August 5th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
BOARDMAN – West Glen United and advocacy group Oregon Rural Action have released a copy of a letter sent to the Morrow County Clean Water Consortium, outlining specific conditions for connecting local homes to city water.
The consortium has proposed connecting the West Glen neighborhood, whose water wells have been heavily affected by nitrate pollution, to the city of Boardman’s water system. In the letter, West Glen United said it is not outright opposed to the plan, but opposes any new costs to the affected residents.
“While we want our wells to be drinkable, we understand city water extension is one of the best options for safe water in our polluted basin,” an excerpt from the letter reads. “Our cost of living should not go up because of pollution we did not cause, and the polluters responsible should be the ones paying for any new costs, now and in the future.”
The letter also asked the consortium to move its August meeting to 6 p.m. to accommodate West Glen members. The group has advocated for this in the past, stating the consortium’s usual late afternoon meeting time does not fit members’ schedules.
Jared Tesch, executive director of the Morrow County Clean Water Consortium said the West Glen United letter and petition are on the consortium’s August agenda, but members cannot deliberate or change meeting times until then. The next meeting is set for Aug. 11 at 4 p.m.
West Glen United says an “overwhelming majority” of households in the neighborhood have signed a petition outlining conditions that must be met for residents to agree to connect to city water.
Below are the five conditions, excerpted directly from the petition released by West Glen United:
1. We demand a safe, clean, permanent water source for our families, our homes,
and our neighborhood. Water is not a privilege; it is a human right.
2. We will not pay again. We have already paid to construct or purchase our wells,
to maintain them, and then with the loss of our health and property values from
pollution. We did not pollute our wells, so it is time for justice–polluters must pay.
3. We want to maintain our way of life and our autonomy outside city limits. We do
not want to be annexed into the City of Boardman.
4. We demand the right to continue using our wells for non-drinking uses and have
real, long-term guarantees to do so.
5. We have the right to be heard on the decisions that affect our lives. We demand
clear information, real participation in decision-making, and a process that is
transparent, fair, and respectful. And let this be clear: we will not tolerate
retaliation for raising our voices.
The consortium’s Executive Director Jared Tesch said they remain focused on securing safe, clean drinking water for unincorporated Morrow County residents impacted by nitrate contamination.
“We are willing to partner with any group, individual, business, or organization — public, private, or nonprofit — committed to funding and providing clean drinking water solutions to affected residents as soon as possible,” Tesch said in a statement on behalf of the consortium to Elkhorn Media Group.
