Port of Morrow Highlights Water Reuse Innovation Supporting Industry, Agriculture, and Regional Sustainability

The Port of Morrow is highlighting its water reuse system that transforms industrial wastewater into a valuable resource supporting agriculture, renewable energy production, and long-term environmental stewardship across the region.

Through advanced treatment systems, nutrient management, and close collaboration with local farmers and industries, the port has developed a circular water system that supports both economic development and responsible resource management in the Columbia Basin.

Turning Industrial Water into Agricultural Opportunity

Industries send wastewater to the Port. The Port cleans and recycles wastewater. Farmers use recycled water to grow crops, sending the raw material back to industrial producers to make food.Food processing and industrial operations located at the port generate water during production activities. Instead of treating that water as waste, the Port of Morrow captures and treats it through a wastewater management system.

Once treated, reclaimed water is distributed to farms where it irrigates thousands of acres of cropland.

This circular system connects industry and agriculture in a mutually beneficial way:

  • Food processors send wastewater to the port’s treatment facilities
  • The water is stored and nutrients are carefully managed
  • Reclaimed water irrigates crops that support regional agriculture

“Our goal has always been to turn challenges into opportunities,” said Lisa Mittelsdorf, Port of Morrow Executive Director. “Water reuse allows us to support farmers, conserve natural resources, and help our industries grow responsibly. It’s a model where economic development and environmental stewardship move forward together.”

Nutrient Recycling Benefits Crops

Recycled water from the Port is used to irrigate crops. Recycled water has nitrate, ammounium, and organic sources of nitrogen such as amino acids and protein. Plants absorb nitrogen and other nutrients and minerals to grow strong and healthy. The Port and farmers manage how much nitrogen goes into the soil.Reclaimed water produced through the reuse process contains naturally occurring nutrients from food production, including nitrogen compounds such as nitrate and ammonium as well as organic sources such as amino acids and proteins.

These nutrients can support crop growth and reduce the need for additional fertilizer inputs. Farmers work with the port to monitor nutrient levels and apply reclaimed water in a way that benefits soil health and crop productivity.

“Reusing water is not just about conservation,” the Executive Director said. “It’s about using resources more intelligently. The nutrients in reclaimed water can support crops while reducing the energy and cost required to produce synthetic fertilizers.”

Advanced Treatment, Monitoring, and Transparency

Monitoring - Tracking water and nitrogen across the program. 150,000 data points per year. Recycled water applied to crops. Tissue samples from crops at each land application site. Soil at land application sites. Soil moisture monitors. Groundwater well monitoring. Waste water from food processors and industries. Supplemental water such as groundwater and surface water (rivers, ponds, canals).The Port of Morrow operates extensive wastewater treatment and monitoring systems designed to ensure reclaimed water is used safely and responsibly.

Key infrastructure includes:

  • Anaerobic digesters that break down organic material in wastewater
  • Storage ponds capable of holding approximately 1.5 billion gallons of water
  • Ongoing environmental monitoring programs

The port collects approximately 150,000 environmental data points each year, including soil samples, crop tissue testing, irrigation records, and water quality monitoring.

The Executive Director emphasized the port’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

“We understand how important water is to our community,” Mittelsdorf said. “That’s why we have significantly expanded monitoring, testing, and reporting. Transparency and science-based management are central to how we operate and how we continue improving our systems.”

Renewable Energy from Waste

The Recycled Water Process – Capturing Value From Waste. Industrial wastewater contains organic nitrogen, carbon compounds, dirt, and solids. It’s sent to anaerobic digestors. Gas by-product from the anaerobic digestion process is turned into natural gas and returned to the energy grid to be used by consumers. In sequencing batch reactors, air and nutrients are used to reduce the concentration of nitrogen compounds in the water. 1.5 million gallons of water is moved to storage ponds. Recycled water nitrogen target – if too much nitrogen is removed from the recycled water, farmers will need to add fertilizer from commercial sources, which uses more energy and resources. Farmers are located in the dryland northwest, where irrigation water is a critical resource. The use of recycled water offsets the need to withdraw from the aquifers or river. Farmers use the recycled water to grow crops.Another benefit of the reuse process is renewable energy production.

Organic materials in wastewater are broken down in anaerobic digesters, producing biogas that can be captured and converted into natural gas and returned to the energy grid.

This process reduces waste while creating an additional renewable energy source for the region.

Protecting Regional Water Resources

Three billion gallons of water is generated by industries which process food grown by farms. Rather than waste the nutrients, they are recycled by the Port and distributed back to farms.

Located near the Columbia River, the port recognizes the importance of protecting regional water resources.
Water reuse helps conserve freshwater supplies while supporting agricultural irrigation needs in the dryland Pacific Northwest.

Benefits include:

  • Reduced demand for freshwater withdrawals
  • Improved water reliability for farmers
  • Nutrient recycling that benefits crops

Investing in Future Water Infrastructure

The port is continuing to invest in infrastructure improvements and new technologies to ensure long-term water reliability and environmental protection.

“Our focus is on strengthening and expanding the infrastructure that supports safe water reuse,” said Mittelsdorf. “We’re investing in monitoring systems and long-term solutions that protect our environment and support sustainable growth for decades to come.”

The Executive Director added that collaboration remains essential.

“We remain committed to working with regulators, scientists, farmers, and community members. Our priority is ensuring water is managed responsibly while supporting the economic vitality of the region.”

A Model for Sustainable Industrial Growth

Where do you want nitrogen to come from? Crops can absorb synthetic nitrogen from fertilizers, or nitrogen from recycled water. The water that is generated from producing food products (washing, cooking, etc.) has nitrogen. Crops are sent to food producers.Through strategic water reuse, industrial collaboration, and agricultural partnerships, the Port of Morrow demonstrates how industrial ports can grow responsibly while protecting natural resources.

By transforming wastewater into a resource, the port has built a circular system where industry, agriculture, and the environment all benefit.

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