JACKSON, Wyo. — The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has been requested to investigate and remediate nitrate contamination in the groundwater near Pub Place — about 4 miles south of town — home to The Bird, Jackson Hole Marketplace, other businesses and a handful of residential apartments.
DEQ Public Information Officer Jillian Scott confirmed with Buckrail that the formal complaint from Protect Our Water Jackson Hole (POWJH) has been received.
“We have confirmed receipt with POWJH and are currently coordinating our internal review of the documentation,” Scott said. “Once the review is complete, the department will issue a formal response directly to POWJH.”
POWJH Advocacy Director Jen Evans told Buckrail that in March 2024, the Pub Place public water system was tested and found to contain more than 10 mg/L of nitrates, which is the maximum contamination level allowed by the Environmental Protection Agency in groundwater used for drinking. Since then, the water system has used a filter, lowering the nitrate levels in drinking water to below the maximum allowed amount.
“However, that’s just putting a filter on the drinking water,” Evans said, “and the actual groundwater, we believe, would still be contaminated because the source was never identified.”
At the time of the violation in 2024, nitrate levels were reported to be as high as 14.8 mg/L. Two other public water systems in the area were also found to have elevated nitrate levels, which suggests to POWJH that there is a continuous, human-caused source of pollution.
The Pub Place area houses multiple industrial businesses as well as some residential apartments, directly east and up the hill from Melody Ranch. Evans said that water from private wells in the area could also be compromised, but any possible testing data is not accessible.
“We hope that the DEQ can find the source of the nitrates, whether that is the septic systems, whether that’s heavy industrial use nearby,” Evans said. “There are around 50 septic systems in that area, and septic systems don’t need to be tested. … So we just want to know where the contamination is coming from and for [the DEQ] to figure out a plan to fix it.”
According to Dr. Jeffrey Schenck — gastroenterologist, hepatologist and POWJH board member — nitrates in drinking water are linked to serious health risks and complications for pregnant women and babies.
“Some babies, especially newborns, can develop life-threatening problems from consuming high nitrate water-based foods,” Schenck said via press release. “The nitrates interfere with normal oxygen transportation in the blood. Moreover, anyone consuming high-nitrate fluid is at risk from other pollutants including bacteria and viruses.”
For anyone interested in testing their private well water for contaminants, POWJH will be hosting a free well-testing program in October that offers kits and instructions to the public.
