Fracking's Water Legacy: Can We Purify It?

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a technique used to extract natural gas or oil from shale rock. It involves injecting water, sand, and chemicals at high pressure into the rock to release the fuel trapped inside. While fracking has provided access to significant amounts of natural gas, it has also raised concerns about environmental contamination and the impact on drinking water sources. The process generates large volumes of wastewater, which can contain toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and radioactive material. This wastewater can contaminate surface and groundwater, posing risks to human health and the environment. However, recent research has explored the potential of using microbes to treat and repurpose polluted water from fracking, offering a possible solution to this complex issue.

Can fracking wastewater be treated in municipal water plants?

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a process that involves injecting water, sand, and chemicals at high pressure into shale and other tight rock formations to release the fuel trapped inside. This process produces a large amount of wastewater, which can be highly toxic and contain massive amounts of brine (salts), toxic metals, and radioactivity.

The question of whether this fracking wastewater can be treated in municipal water plants is a complex one and has been the subject of much debate. On the one hand, some argue that municipal water treatment plants are not equipped to handle the high levels of contamination, especially radioactivity, found in fracking wastewater. For example, a report by the NRDC states that municipal sewage treatment plants are not designed to handle fracking wastewater and that treatment at these plants should be banned.

Furthermore, there is a risk of producing additional toxic byproducts during the treatment process. For instance, the mixture of bromides in wastewater and the chlorine used at sewage treatment plants can produce a toxin linked to bladder cancer, miscarriages, and stillbirths. There is also a concern that current regulations, such as the Clean Water Act, do not adequately address the treatment and disposal of fracking wastewater, leaving it up to individual states to determine their own requirements and enforcement.

On the other hand, some argue that advanced treatment technologies and alternative practices can be used to treat fracking wastewater in municipal plants. For example, advanced oxidation, chemical treatments, reverse osmosis, and modular treatment systems have been introduced as potential solutions to address the issue of contamination. These technologies aim to eliminate organic compounds, push wastewater through membranes to clean it, and provide more flexibility in treating contaminated water.

However, even with these advancements, the treatment of fracking wastewater in municipal plants remains challenging. The process is energy-intensive, and the residual byproducts, such as sludge, can be highly radioactive and require specialized disposal as hazardous waste.

In conclusion, while there are ongoing efforts to develop safe and effective methods for treating fracking wastewater, it is generally agreed that municipal water treatment plants are not currently suited for this purpose. The high levels of contamination and the potential for toxic byproducts pose significant risks to human health and the environment. As a result, the treatment and disposal of fracking wastewater require specialized facilities and stringent regulations to ensure the protection of public health and the environment.

What are the dangers of fracking wastewater?

Fracking wastewater, or "produced water", is highly toxic and unsafe for the environment and human health. The dangers of fracking wastewater are far-reaching and impact drinking water, the environment, and human and aquatic life.

Drinking Water Contamination

Fracking wastewater contains a variety of toxic chemicals, including salts, metals, and radioactive material. These chemicals can contaminate drinking water sources if not properly contained and disposed of. This contamination can occur through leaks from landfills, spills from trucks or pipelines, equipment failure, or leaks from unlined disposal pits. Even when treated, the water may still contain harmful levels of radioactive material, which can then be released into the environment, further contaminating water sources.

Environmental Impact

The disposal methods for fracking wastewater also pose risks to the environment. Underground injection, while considered one of the safer options, has been linked to increased seismic activity, including earthquakes. Other methods, such as spreading wastewater on roads or storing it in open pits, can lead to groundwater and soil contamination, as well as hazardous air pollution.

Human and Aquatic Life

The toxic chemicals in fracking wastewater pose risks to both human and aquatic life. These chemicals can be toxic, radioactive, or corrosive, causing direct harm to those exposed. Additionally, they can interact with disinfectants at drinking water plants to form cancer-causing chemicals. The contamination of aquatic ecosystems can have long-lasting effects, as radioactive material can accumulate in sediments and food sources, such as clams and mussels, further endangering aquatic life and humans who consume these sources.

Water Cycle Disruption

The use of disposal wells for fracking wastewater removes water from the natural water cycle. This practice is unsustainable in the long term as it reduces the amount of water available for natural processes, such as evaporation and condensation, which are essential for the replenishment of water sources.

How can fracking contaminate drinking water?

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a technique used to extract natural gas or oil from shale and other forms of "tight" rock formations. This process involves injecting large quantities of water, chemicals, and sand into these rock formations at high pressure, cracking the rock and allowing gas and oil to flow to the surface. While fracking has provided access to significant natural gas reserves, it has also raised concerns about its environmental impact, particularly its potential to contaminate drinking water sources. Here's how fracking can contaminate drinking water:

Water Contamination Pathways:

• Leaking and Spills: Fracking fluids, which contain a mix of water, chemicals, and sand, can leak or spill during transportation to the well site, mixing, pumping, or storage. These spills can reach surface water resources, including creeks, streams, and rivers, contaminating drinking water sources.
• Faulty Well Construction: Improperly constructed wells can allow oil, gas, and fracking fluids to leak into surrounding rock formations and potentially reach underground drinking water resources.
• Fractured Rock Formations: Operators cannot always control the direction of fractures created during fracking. In some cases, these fractures can connect with natural faults or other wells, carrying fracking fluids into drinking water supplies.
• Wastewater Mismanagement: Fracking generates billions of gallons of wastewater annually, a mixture of flowback (used fracking fluid) and produced water (naturally occurring water released during extraction). This wastewater can contaminate drinking water sources during transportation, storage, or treatment due to spills, leaks, or inadequate treatment processes.
• Aquifer Depletion and Pollution: Fracking consumes and depletes massive amounts of water, straining freshwater resources in some areas. Additionally, the contaminated water used in fracking is typically disposed of in underground wells, removing it from the freshwater cycle and reducing the overall water supply.
• Chemical Additives: Fracking fluids contain chemical additives, some of which are considered hazardous to human health. These chemicals, such as methanol, ethylene glycol, and propargyl alcohol, can contaminate drinking water sources if they leak or are not properly contained.
• Radioactive Contamination: Wastewater generated during fracking can contain naturally occurring radioactive materials, such as uranium and radium. If this wastewater is not properly treated and disposed of, it can contaminate drinking water sources and pose risks to human health.
• Salt and Heavy Metal Contamination: Fracking wastewater often contains high levels of salt, heavy metals, and toxic hydrocarbons. If this wastewater is not adequately treated, it can pollute drinking water sources, making it unsafe for human consumption.
• Infrastructure Failures: Damage to well infrastructure, such as burst casings or pipeline ruptures, can result in the release of fracking fluids and wastewater into the environment, potentially contaminating nearby water sources used for drinking water.

How much water does fracking use?

The amount of water used in fracking depends on several factors, including the rock formation, the operator, the well's orientation, and the number of fractured portions. As such, there is no "typical" fractured well. Water use per well can range from 1.5 million gallons to about 16 million gallons.

For example, in the Marcellus Shale gas country of Pennsylvania, a large percentage (around 70%) of the water is reused. In the state of Texas, more than 90% of flowback fluid is reused.

The average fracking job uses roughly 4 million gallons of water per well. However, this can vary by state, depending on the geology and other factors. For instance, in California, the average fracking job requires over 116,000 gallons of water, while in Colorado, the average is 2.7 million gallons.

What is fracking wastewater composed of?

Fracking wastewater is composed of a mixture of fracking fluid and formation water (i.e., water rich in brine from the targeted shale gas-rich rock). This wastewater can contain massive amounts of brine (salts), toxic metals, and radioactivity.

The chemicals used in the fracking process vary depending on the company and the characteristics of the formation. However, some common chemicals include methanol, benzene, diesel, and sand. Fracking wastewater can also include chemical additive formulas, with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, ethylene glycol, methanol, and toluene.

The specific composition of fracking wastewater can be challenging to determine due to the proprietary nature of the processes involved and the lack of standard lab protocols for detecting all the chemicals used.

The quality of fracking wastewater can change rapidly, especially within the first two weeks of flow. After this initial period, the majority of the flow is produced water, which is regulated differently from frack water.

Frequently asked questions