Salty, Oily Drinking Water Left Sores in Their Mouths. Oklahoma Refused to Find Out Why.

ProPublicaCenter-LeftEN 14 min read 100% complete by Nick BowlinFebruary 12, 2026 at 11:00 AM

AI Summary

long article 14 min

Tammy and Chris Boarman, a couple from Oklahoma, discovered that their private well water was contaminated with high levels of barium after moving into their home in 2022. The water had a salty taste and caused sores in their mouths, prompting them to contact the state agency overseeing private water wells. Despite evidence showing pollution consistent with oil field waste, the state delayed key tests and ultimately closed the family's complaint. Tests conducted by the state found toxic metals at levels high enough to endanger human health, but regulators failed to conduct further investigations. The couple's home is located 30 miles from Oklahoma City, near areas where oil and gas extraction takes place. The Boarmans' case highlights the need for more effective regulation of the oil industry in Oklahoma.

Keywords

water contamination 90% oil and gas extraction 80% oil field waste 70% drinking water 70% state regulators 60% private well 50% toxic metals 50% oklahoma 40%

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Very Negative
Score: -0.80

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Source
ProPublica
Political Lean
Center-Left (-0.40)
Far LeftCenterFar Right
Classification Confidence
90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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