Much of the country’s shale gas development is happening in areas that are drought-prone, adding to worries that fracking is putting pressure on America’s fresh water supply, according to an article at The Guardian.

According to a report by the Ceres investor network, a nonprofit that advocates for sustainability leadership, since 2011, three-quarters of new shale gas wells are located in areas where water is scarce. The report found that 55 percent of those areas were experiencing drought.

Water worries

The Shale Gas Reporter has run several stories about water quality, water treatment and water supplies:

♦ New Legislation Encourages Drillers to Use Mine Drainage Water

♦ Former Fighter Pilot Treating Fracking Water

♦ ODNR Working to Ensure Water Stays Safe

♦ MWCD Considers More Water Sales to Drillers 

The report found that 36 percent of U.S. shale gas wells are in areas that are experiencing groundwater depletion. These areas are mostly confined to the Midwest and near the Mississippi River.

Though agriculture and cities consume more water than shale gas development, but water use by shale gas companies isn’t insignificant. Each shale gas well can use 4 – 6 million gallons of water, according to StateImpact Pennsylvania.

Water stress map

Shale plays

The report mentions five shale plays and how water usage is affecting the area’s water supplies. The Marcellus shale is the second highest water use play behind the Eagle Ford shale play in Texas.  Pennsylvania is listed as having medium or low water stress levels.

Download the entire report.

» Via: The Guardian › Fracking is depleting water supplies in America’s driest areas, report shows