The Burden of Proof that Hydraulic Fracturing Pollutes Water Supplies is with Those Who Oppose Drilling
Those who oppose drilling for gas in the Marcellus Shale most often use
the argument that harmful chemicals are pumped into the ground and
therefore will find their way into surface water supplies. In meeting
after meeting concerns about water are voiced most often. Those of us
who support safe drilling have to patiently, methodically point out that
of all the tens of thousands of gas wells that have been drilled in
this country using hydraulic fracturing, there are no reported cases of
chemicals finding their way from the well into ground water supplies.
(Please! If you know of such a case, post the details in the comments.)
Hydraulic fracturing and the small amount of chemicals used in it do not
pollute water supplies. Less than one percent of fracking fluid is
chemicals. More than 99 percent is water and sand. These are the facts.
At a recent meeting in Frazer, Pennsylvania (near Pittsburgh), residents
met and questioned representatives from Range Resources, a driller
planning a new well in the area. Here’s part of an exchange on the
subject of water:
Residents such as Jim Russell, who lives along Yutes Run Road and
has well water, worry the chemicals used in fracking could poison the
water supply.
“What chemicals do you use and why does that have to be?” Russell
asked.
Chuck Moyer, geology manager with Range Resources, responded that
chemicals make up less than 1 percent of the solution. He said that, in
general terms, the solution contains a “soapy” material and a
bactericide similar to what homeowners put on their lawns.
Jim Cannon, a spokesman for Range Resources, said the chemicals do a
good job of fracturing the shale.
“We take great pains to protect the water table,” he said.
The officials said the water table in the township is about 300 feet
underground. When crews dig a well, they surround it with a casing made
of steel and concrete. That casing is thickest near the water table.*
Pennsylvania requires drillers to test wells located within 1,000 feet
of a well. Range voluntarily tests out to 2,500 feet.
The point? The burden of proof is not on the drilling industry to
somehow “prove” drilling will not pollute water supplies. That proof
already exists in the form of thousands of successfully drilled gas
wells where there has been no contamination. The burden is on those who
say drilling is unsafe for water supplies. Show the proof, and make your
case. And if you can’t, allow drilling to go forward.
*Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (July 7) – Water tops Frazer fears about gas
drilling
the argument that harmful chemicals are pumped into the ground and
therefore will find their way into surface water supplies. In meeting
after meeting concerns about water are voiced most often. Those of us
who support safe drilling have to patiently, methodically point out that
of all the tens of thousands of gas wells that have been drilled in
this country using hydraulic fracturing, there are no reported cases of
chemicals finding their way from the well into ground water supplies.
(Please! If you know of such a case, post the details in the comments.)
Hydraulic fracturing and the small amount of chemicals used in it do not
pollute water supplies. Less than one percent of fracking fluid is
chemicals. More than 99 percent is water and sand. These are the facts.
At a recent meeting in Frazer, Pennsylvania (near Pittsburgh), residents
met and questioned representatives from Range Resources, a driller
planning a new well in the area. Here’s part of an exchange on the
subject of water:
Residents such as Jim Russell, who lives along Yutes Run Road and
has well water, worry the chemicals used in fracking could poison the
water supply.
“What chemicals do you use and why does that have to be?” Russell
asked.
Chuck Moyer, geology manager with Range Resources, responded that
chemicals make up less than 1 percent of the solution. He said that, in
general terms, the solution contains a “soapy” material and a
bactericide similar to what homeowners put on their lawns.
Jim Cannon, a spokesman for Range Resources, said the chemicals do a
good job of fracturing the shale.
“We take great pains to protect the water table,” he said.
The officials said the water table in the township is about 300 feet
underground. When crews dig a well, they surround it with a casing made
of steel and concrete. That casing is thickest near the water table.*
Pennsylvania requires drillers to test wells located within 1,000 feet
of a well. Range voluntarily tests out to 2,500 feet.
The point? The burden of proof is not on the drilling industry to
somehow “prove” drilling will not pollute water supplies. That proof
already exists in the form of thousands of successfully drilled gas
wells where there has been no contamination. The burden is on those who
say drilling is unsafe for water supplies. Show the proof, and make your
case. And if you can’t, allow drilling to go forward.
*Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (July 7) – Water tops Frazer fears about gas
drilling
Views: 207
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kathleen Elsie Gibbs on
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Atlas told us twice that they would be testing our water. My only stipulation was that an adult of the household be present when they tested. They never did test. We have two wells in that 1000 foot range. One shallow and one deep. While they were actually drilling our water was turbid. We have had a slight migration of methane (since corrected itself) and about three months ago our water was so salty the dogs refused to drink it. We figure these things will correct themselves but in the mean time we are hauling drinking water for the family and our animals from where my husband works. It is a true pain in the well you know where.
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RE: Water
We are in Derry Twp., Pennsylvania where there is a gas well boom! Rex drilled several (maybe 5) shallow wells in 2008 and Williams is drilling deep wells here now (They have 4 or 5) with many more to come! All these wells, shallow and deep, are within a mile of homes. 1 shallow well drilled by Rex Energy is judged by DEP to be defective. That 1 Pre-drill water test that was required before Rex did the shallow wells in 2008 proves zero methane before gas drilling, however, now DEP says that one time test is not enough history to prove zero methane in the area and area residents are having a tough time proving their case because their problems did not start within the 6 months following installation of the shallow gas wells. I would say... if possible, see what an attorney can do to protect you from this situation. Get Several Pre-Drill Water Tests...Specifically testing for gases, etc. and request and keep copies of everything! Homeowners of Derry Twp. depend on well water for their main water supply and now they have methane. Aerators and methane detectors have been supplied to affected homes by Rex Energy, but city water is over a mile away and there has been no offer to hook up city water by anyone and local officials say there is no money in budgets to help. -
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Those pre drill tests are around $500 each if you collect the water yourself. We also have public water about a mile from us. Just get laughed at when we ask when we will be hooked on.
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