Fracking's Impact: Drinking Water Pollution And Its Prevention

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a technique used to extract natural gas or oil from shale rock. The process involves pumping large quantities of water, chemicals, and sand into shale rock formations at high pressure, cracking the rock and allowing natural gas and oil to flow to the surface. While fracking has helped the United States become a global leader in natural gas and crude oil production, there are concerns about its environmental impact, particularly its potential to pollute drinking water sources. Some studies have found evidence of drinking water contamination attributed to fracking, while others suggest that fracking does not contaminate groundwater.

Spills and leaks of fracking fluids

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) analyzed spill reports from 11 states and found 151 spills of fracking fluids or additives between 2006 and 2012, with nearly 10% of those spills ending up in creeks, streams, or other bodies of water. The full impact of spills and leaks can be difficult to measure, as the chemical makeup of the spilled fluid may be unknown or poorly described, and the ultimate fate of the spilled fluids and the impacts of the spill are often not studied.

The potential for spills and leaks of fracking fluids is a significant concern for public health and the environment. Fracking fluids contain a slurry of chemicals, many of which are known to be dangerous, and even more of which are kept secret by the companies that produce them. As fracking sites are often located near headwater streams that feed into public drinking water systems, aboveground leaks can pose a significant risk to drinking water sources.

A study by Hannah Wiseman of Florida State University College of Law and her colleagues found that 75 to 94% of spills occurred within the first three years of a well's life, with 50% related to storage and the movement of fracking fluids via flow lines. The study also revealed that the number of documented spills increased when states switched from telephone reporting systems to written reporting systems, highlighting the importance of accurate and comprehensive spill data reporting and collection methods.

To minimize the risk of spills and leaks of fracking fluids, appropriate mitigation strategies, improved reporting methods, and stricter regulations are necessary.

Injection of fluids into poorly constructed wells

The injection of fluids into poorly constructed wells can lead to the contamination of drinking water. This occurs when injected fluids, such as water, wastewater, brine, or water mixed with chemicals, escape from the well and migrate into nearby groundwater sources. This can happen if the well is not properly sealed or cased, allowing the injected fluids to leak out and potentially contaminate drinking water sources.

In the context of fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, this can occur if the wells are drilled too shallowly or if there are issues with well integrity. For example, in Pavillion, Wyoming, it was found that shallow hydraulic fracturing may have allowed chemicals to migrate into drinking water sources. The study by former EPA scientist Dominic DiGiulio suggested that people's water wells in Pavillion were contaminated with fracking wastes stored in unlined pits, and that the entire groundwater resource in the Wind River Basin was contaminated with chemicals linked to fracking.

The potential for contamination is particularly high during the pre-production period when a new well is established. Research by Elaine Hill, Ph.D., and Lala Ma, Ph.D., found that drilling near an infant's public water source yielded poorer birth outcomes and more fracking-related contaminants in public drinking water. Their study specifically showed that every new well drilled within one kilometer of a public drinking water source was associated with an 11-13% increase in the incidence of preterm births and low birth weight in infants exposed during gestation.

To prevent the contamination of drinking water, injection wells must be properly constructed and maintained. This includes ensuring that the wells have multiple layers of protective casing and cement to prevent the escape of injected fluids. Additionally, regular testing and monitoring of injection wells are crucial to detect any leaks or pressure changes that may indicate a problem.

While there are stringent regulations in place to protect drinking water sources, such as the Underground Injection Control (UIC) program in the United States, it is important to recognize that the injection of fluids into poorly constructed or maintained wells can still pose a risk to drinking water sources.

Poor wastewater management

The transportation, storage, and treatment of this wastewater present multiple risks for water pollution. During transportation, for instance, there is a risk of spills and leaks, which can reach surface water resources. In 2015, a broken North Dakota pipeline carrying produced water spilled about three million gallons of contaminants into a nearby creek. When it comes to storage, open pits that hold wastewater above ground can also spill, leak, and emit air pollution.

Even the treatment of wastewater is challenging. Treatment facilities may struggle to properly handle the pollutants found in fracking waste, leading to the release of contaminants into surface waters. Furthermore, the recycling of wastewater generates concentrated waste products, including technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material (TENORM), which requires proper management to prevent environmental harm.

The fate of fracking wastewater is often unclear, and inadequate state reporting requirements make it difficult to track. In Pennsylvania and West Virginia, for example, the fate of 62% of fracking waste is unknown due to lax reporting requirements. This lack of transparency makes it challenging to assess the full impact of fracking on water resources.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has acknowledged the potential risks of fracking on drinking water resources, despite industry claims to the contrary. EPA investigations and studies have identified instances of groundwater contamination linked to fracking activities, particularly in Pavillion, Wyoming, where water wells were contaminated with fracking wastes stored in unlined pits.

While some studies suggest that fracking does not contaminate groundwater, the weight of evidence indicates that poor wastewater management in the fracking process can indeed pose a significant threat to drinking water sources.

Water withdrawals in times of low water availability

Water withdrawals for fracking in times or areas of low water availability can impact drinking water resources. This is especially true in areas with limited or declining groundwater resources. The impact can range from temporary changes in water quality to contamination that makes private drinking water wells unusable.

Fracking requires the withdrawal of groundwater or surface water to make hydraulic fracturing fluids. This can lead to decreased volumes of water in rivers, streams, lakes, and aquifers, and alter natural flow regimes. The impact is more severe in areas with limited water resources, such as the South Plains of Texas, which has seen a decline in the Ogallara Aquifer.

The use of large volumes of water for fracking has raised concerns about the sustainability of this activity and its potential impacts on surface and groundwater. The effects of water withdrawal for fracking on stream flow depend on the volume of water withdrawn, the size of the stream, and the watershed area. Water withdrawal from streams for fracking can have a significant effect on environmental flow, especially during low flow periods.

To address these concerns, it is essential to develop sustainable water resources management plans. This includes understanding the interaction between groundwater and surface water and the impacts of water withdrawal for fracking on stream flow, groundwater levels, and aquatic ecosystems.

Inadequate treatment and discharge of wastewater

One common method of dealing with this wastewater is to send it to treatment plants, which then discharge the treated water into water bodies. However, this practice has come under scrutiny due to concerns that the treatment processes may not effectively remove all the pollutants. Some wastewater is treated at municipal sewage treatment plants, which are not designed to handle the unique contaminants found in fracking wastewater. Instead of removing the pollutants, these plants merely dilute them, leading to the release of contaminated water into local water bodies and drinking water sources.

Privately owned industrial wastewater treatment facilities are also used, but not all of them are equipped to handle fracking wastewater. Even when treated at these facilities, the process can be energy-intensive and generate concentrated residual byproducts that require careful management. The treatment and discharge of fracking wastewater into surface waters pose significant risks to both human health and the environment, especially if the treatment process is inadequate.

In addition to treatment and discharge, other methods of wastewater disposal, such as storage in open pits and spreading on roads, have also been criticised for their potential to contaminate soil, surface water, and groundwater. The inadequate treatment and discharge of fracking wastewater highlight the need for stronger regulations and improved treatment technologies to protect public health and the environment from potential contamination.

Frequently asked questions