Oregon’s water pollution

Medford, Ore. — Oregon ranks 33rd worst in the nation when it comes to pollution in our waterways.

That’s according to a brand new report from the group ‘Environment Oregon.’

The report says more than a million pounds of toxic chemicals were dumped into Oregon’s water ways in 2012, putting the state at number 33 out 50.

It could be worse, there obviously are a number of states ahead of us, said Rogue Riverkeeper Program Director, Forrest English. In the Rogue Basin in particular, we’re fortunate that we don’t have a huge number of industrial pollutors. The bulk of those are up on the Columbia and the Willamette, continued English.

According to the report, Oregon also ranks 17th in the nation for the release of cancer-causing chemicals into waterways.

© 2024 KOBI-TV NBC5. All rights reserved unless otherwise stated.

Skip to content