Water Pollution: Fracking's Impact And Environmental Cost

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a technique used to extract natural gas and oil from deep rock formations. It involves injecting water, sand, and chemicals at high pressure to fracture the rock and release the gas or oil within. While fracking has been touted as a boon for the energy industry, providing access to vast new deposits of fossil fuels, it has also raised serious concerns about its environmental and health impacts. One of the primary concerns is water pollution, with evidence suggesting that fracking can contaminate both groundwater and surface water sources, posing risks to human health, wildlife, and the environment. So, what percentage of water pollution is attributed to fracking, and how significant is its impact on water resources?

Characteristics and Values

Fracking contaminates drinking water

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a technique used to extract natural gas or oil from shale rock and other forms of "tight" rock. The process involves pumping water laced with sand and various additives into wells at high pressure to shatter the rock and release gas or oil. This process uses a massive amount of water—between 1.5 million and 9.7 million gallons of water on average in the US to frack a single well. The water used for fracking is typically freshwater taken from groundwater and surface water resources.

Fracking operations have been found to contaminate drinking water resources in several ways. Firstly, spills and leaks of fracking fluids can occur during transportation, mixing, pumping, storage, transportation, and disposal of used fracturing fluid and wastewater. Human error and equipment failure have been identified as causes of spills and leaks, which have, in some cases, reached surface water resources. Improperly constructed wells have also been implicated in drinking water contamination, with faulty well casings leading to the leakage of fracking fluids into water quality monitoring wells.

Furthermore, the process of fracking draws up water that has been trapped in the rocks, along with the fracking fluid, which is called "produced water." This produced water is contaminated with elements from underground, as well as the chemicals in the fracking fluid. If this water cannot be treated adequately, it is disposed of by injecting it into underground wells, removing it from the freshwater cycle. However, improper management of this contaminated water has been identified as a source of pollution, and it can find its way into groundwater used for drinking water supplies.

Research has also identified an increase in salt compounds such as barium, chloride, and strontium in watersheds with newly fracked wells, although the concentrations remain below harmful levels as per EPA standards. Additionally, a study in Pavillion, Wyoming, linked the presence of methanol in the aquifer to fracking fluid contamination, as the fracking mixture contained about 10% methanol. Another study in Pennsylvania and Texas found that private wells providing drinking water had been contaminated with methane and other chemicals, likely due to faulty well construction and wastewater mismanagement.

The contamination of drinking water by fracking operations has led to calls for stricter environmental regulations and a re-evaluation of existing drinking water policies. While the exact percentage of water pollution attributed to fracking is challenging to determine, the cumulative evidence suggests that fracking contributes significantly to water pollution, particularly in areas where fracking operations are prevalent.

Fracking affects infant health

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a technique used to extract natural gas or oil from shale rock. This process involves injecting water laced with sand and various additives into the rock to release the gas or oil. While fracking has been touted as an economic booster, providing jobs and financial benefits, there are growing concerns about its environmental and health impacts, particularly regarding water pollution and infant health.

Several studies have linked fracking to drinking water pollution and its subsequent negative impact on infant health. Research has shown that fracking increases the presence of regulated contaminants in drinking water, even if the levels do not always trigger regulatory violations. This adds to the mounting evidence of the need for stricter environmental regulations in the industry.

One study from the University of Chicago, published in 2018, compared infants born to mothers living near a drilling site to those living farther from a site, both before and after the drilling began. The study found that infants born to mothers living within half a mile to 2 miles of a fracking site had an increased probability of low birth weight. The effect was more pronounced for those living within half a mile, with about a half to a third of the impact within the closer range. This suggests that fracking does impact infant health, but only at a localized level.

Another study, published in the International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health in 2022, evaluated the association between the density and proximity of unconventional natural gas (UNG) wells and mental illness and substance use among pregnant individuals in Northeastern British Columbia, Canada. The study included individuals who gave birth at the Fort St John hospital between December 30, 2006, and December 29, 2016. While the results of this specific study are unclear, the research builds upon previous work by the same authors, which linked fracking to local economic benefits.

The impact of fracking on infant health is not limited to physical health but also extends to mental health and substance use. This highlights the need for further research and stricter regulations to protect vulnerable populations, such as infants, from the potential negative consequences of fracking operations.

Fracking causes air pollution

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a technique used to extract natural gas and oil from deep rock formations, particularly shale. This process involves forcing water, sand, and a mix of chemicals into horizontally drilled wells, causing the rock to crack and release natural gas or oil.

While fracking has various economic benefits, such as job creation, there are concerns about its environmental and health impacts. One significant concern is air pollution caused by the release of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and hydrocarbons during the fracking process.

Fracking operations emit a range of air pollutants, including benzene, a known carcinogen, and ozone, which can have detrimental effects on human health and the environment. The production phase of fracking has been found to emit the highest concentrations and most varied mixture of air pollutants over an extended period. The increase in truck traffic associated with fracking also contributes to worsening air quality in areas with oil and gas drilling.

Additionally, there is a risk of accidental leaks and spills during the transportation and storage of concentrated chemical additives and wastewater. These leaks and spills can release toxic chemicals into the air, further contributing to air pollution. Improper well construction can also lead to the leakage of fracking fluids, as seen in the example of burst casings in Killdeer, North Dakota, in 2010.

The impact of fracking on air quality is particularly notable in areas with a high density of wells, such as the "fracking boom" regions. The resurgence of benzene emissions and the emergence of ozone problems in specific locations, such as the Uintah basin in Utah, have been attributed to the fracking industry's emissions.

Fracking impacts wildlife

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a technique used to extract natural gas or oil from shale rock and other tight rock formations. This process involves injecting a mixture of water, sand, and chemicals at high pressure to fracture the rock and release the gas or oil trapped within. While this method has the potential to revolutionize energy production, it also comes with significant environmental concerns, particularly regarding water pollution and its impact on wildlife.

Fracking operations have been linked to water pollution through various pathways. Spills and leaks of fracking fluids, improper wastewater management, and inadequate well construction have all contributed to the contamination of water sources. This polluted water often ends up back on the surface, carrying heavy metals, radioactivity, toxic chemicals, and high salinity levels. The improper management of "produced water," which is the contaminated water that returns to the surface, further exacerbates the issue.

The impact of fracking on wildlife is only beginning to be understood, and the evidence is mounting. Aquatic life, such as fish and crustaceans, is directly affected by the contaminated water. A study on water fleas showed that even diluted fracking fluids in streams could decrease insect mobility and survival due to high salinity. The accumulation of contaminants in aquatic ecosystems can have long-lasting effects on the entire food chain, including larger animals and birds.

Additionally, fracking operations can physically disrupt and fragment wildlife habitats. The construction of wells and roads can lead to a significant reduction in intact forests, changing the balance of species in the region. Invasive weed species may take over, causing a loss of native plants and animals. The bright lights and noise associated with drilling sites can also negatively impact nocturnal wildlife and acoustically specialized predators, such as owls, by disrupting their behaviour and hunting abilities.

Air pollution from fracking activities is another concern for wildlife. Long-term exposure to air pollutants, including hydrocarbons, can result in neurological and respiratory ailments and even cancer. As natural gas continues to be one of the fastest-growing energy sources, the urgency to understand its full impact on wildlife increases. More research is needed to grasp the scope of the problem and implement effective regulations to protect wildlife and ecosystems from the potential dangers of fracking.

Fracking contributes to climate change

While the exact percentage of water pollution caused by fracking is unknown, there is ample evidence that fracking contributes significantly to water pollution. Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, involves injecting water, sand, and toxic chemicals into rock at high pressure to release oil and natural gas. This process uses massive amounts of water, with a single well in the US consuming between 1.5 and 9.7 million gallons of water on average.

Fracking not only strains water resources but also risks contaminating them. The chemicals used in fracking, about 25% of which are known to be carcinogenic, can leak and spill during transportation, mixing, pumping, storage, and disposal. This contaminated water, known as "produced water," can pollute surface water and groundwater sources, posing risks to both the environment and human health.

In addition to water pollution, fracking contributes to climate change in several ways. Firstly, fracking enables the continued extraction and use of fossil fuels, which are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. The delay in "peak oil" caused by the increased exploitation of unconventional reserves through fracking has raised grave climate concerns. Secondly, fracking operations release methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. High concentrations of methane have been detected in intensive fracking regions, and it is widely recognized as a significant contributor to climate change.

Furthermore, the boom in fracked gas has led to a surge in petrochemical and plastics production, resulting in more plastic pollution in our rivers, landscapes, oceans, and marine life. The microplastic molecules from this pollution have made their way into various products, including sea salt, bottled water, and organic compost. Additionally, these petrochemical and plastics plants emit large quantities of air and climate pollutants, exacerbating the environmental impact of fracking.

The social and environmental problems caused by fracking are significant and widespread. Communities near fracking sites have had to resort to trucking water to their homes due to well-water contamination. There are also concerns about the impact of fracking on infant health, with studies indicating poorer birth outcomes and increased contaminants in public drinking water. The heavy-duty trucks used in fracking operations contribute to traffic congestion, road wear and tear, and the risk of accidents that can result in hazardous spills.

Overall, fracking poses a severe threat to our climate and communities, and there are growing calls for stricter environmental regulations or even a complete ban on this practice to protect our planet and public health.

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