Studying Water Complaints in Ohio, Other States
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
The contamination of ground water, particularly aquifers that supply water wells to homes, has been a concern of residents in shale gas producing states.
Now, the Associated Press (AP) has released an article that sums-up hundreds of complaints that have been made about well-water contamination in four states, including Ohio.
The AP requested data on drilling-related water well complaints in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and Texas.
Findings:
* Pennsylvania had 106 water-well contamination cases since 2005.
* Ohio had 6 confirmed cases since 2010
* Since 2010, West Virginia had four cases that were strong enough for the driller to take corrective action.
* Texas hasn’t had a confirmed complaint of water well contamination in the last 10 years.
» Via: NBC News » Oil and gas drilling pollutes well water, states confirm
Leave a Comment
Marcellus & Utica Shale Well Map
Additional Shale Maps
Shale FAQ
What is fracking?
Fracking is a slang term for hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing is a process by which highly pressurized fluid is pumped thousands of feet into the ground to fracture rock formations. The goal is to release the natural gas that’s locked inside the rock.
Is it safe?
What most concerns people about fracturing is ground water contamination. The worry is that fractures underground, caused by the process, will extending upwards and into aquifers, releasing gas and chemicals into the ground water supply. There’s been no confirmed reports of such a thing happening. Though surface spills and drill site blowouts can lead to localized environmental concerns.
Will my water catch on fire?
Flammable water is caused by the release of methane gas into a drinking water supply. Methane gas occurs naturally and can be released by any kind of drilling, including water wells. In Pennsylvania officials fined Chesapeake Energy $1 million for contaminating ground water with methane. It was determined that the company had not properly cemented it’s boreholes and gas migrated up the well, between rock and into aquifers.