Although hydraulic fracturing has been in use for oil and natural gas drilling since the early 1900’s, its detrimental effects have only recently been brought to the public’s attention. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is the use of a pressurized, chemically treated mixture of water and sand to release and extract quantities of natural gas and petroleum from shale rock. This mining process and its toxins are harmful to thousands of people across the nation. Hydraulic fracturing is a dangerous, environmentally detrimental practice and should no longer be used in the United States. Fracking practices involve a high number of accidents, leaks, and spills of hydraulic fracturing fluid, which negatively affects the environment. Often, fracking
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A study conducted by Stephen Osborn (2011), with the National Academy of Science, found that “methane concentrations were 17-times higher...in shallow wells from active drilling and extraction areas than in wells from non-active areas...The average methane concentration…fell within the defined action level...for hazard mitigation” (p.8173). The positive correlation between proximity to fracking wells and methane levels demonstrates the detrimental impacts hydraulic fracturing can have on people’s lives. Some families seek compensation for the destruction of the water wells. The people of Dimock and Carter Road brought a civil suit against the local fracking company, Cabot and Oil Corporation. In this case, the Pennsylvania Court “determined that eighteen (18) drinking water supplies that serve nineteen (19) homes within the Dimock/Carter Road Area have been affected from the drilling activities at the Dimock/Carter Road Gas Wells” (Commonwealth, 2011, p. 1). In this case, Cabot and Oil Corporation was found at fault and had to compensate the families for the damage. However, most cases, even when the fracking company has caused damage go unresolved, resulting in hundreds of families unable to have clean water, causing them to either move or find another water source. Although no serious health effects have yet been directly tied to consuming methane in drinking …show more content…
Every fracking well is a different size, needing a specific amount of water. On average, “in Pennsylvania…the…amount of water used per well is 4.4 million gallons” (StateImpact, 2013, p.1). This water is pulled from nearby rivers, streams, and bodies of water, the same water sources that the local communities use. As one location can have several fracking wells, each using million gallons of clean water, the total impact of the hydraulic fracturing operations can have drastic impacts on the amount of clean water available to the community. Fracking sucks clean water out of communities across the nation to mix with toxins and sand in order to drill for oil. After the fracking process, the once clean water is contaminated with toxins, some radioactive and carcinogenic, and disposed of as wastewater. Out of the billions of clean water used, “fracking wells nationwide produced an estimated 280 billion gallons of wastewater in 2012” (Environmental America, 2013). Billions of gallons of once clean water are destroyed by hydraulic fracturing. In a country where thousands of citizens live in drought ridden or contaminated areas, fracking companies are allowed to turn clean, fresh, water into filthy wastewater. This wastewater is then disposed of in a variety of ways, with small amounts being recycled. Not only does fracking use and destroy
A study conducted by Stephen Osborn (2011), with the National Academy of Science, found that “methane concentrations were 17-times higher...in shallow wells from active drilling and extraction areas than in wells from non-active areas...The average methane concentration…fell within the defined action level...for hazard mitigation” (p.8173). The positive correlation between proximity to fracking wells and methane levels demonstrates the detrimental impacts hydraulic fracturing can have on people’s lives. Some families seek compensation for the destruction of the water wells. The people of Dimock and Carter Road brought a civil suit against the local fracking company, Cabot and Oil Corporation. In this case, the Pennsylvania Court “determined that eighteen (18) drinking water supplies that serve nineteen (19) homes within the Dimock/Carter Road Area have been affected from the drilling activities at the Dimock/Carter Road Gas Wells” (Commonwealth, 2011, p. 1). In this case, Cabot and Oil Corporation was found at fault and had to compensate the families for the damage. However, most cases, even when the fracking company has caused damage go unresolved, resulting in hundreds of families unable to have clean water, causing them to either move or find another water source. Although no serious health effects have yet been directly tied to consuming methane in drinking …show more content…
Every fracking well is a different size, needing a specific amount of water. On average, “in Pennsylvania…the…amount of water used per well is 4.4 million gallons” (StateImpact, 2013, p.1). This water is pulled from nearby rivers, streams, and bodies of water, the same water sources that the local communities use. As one location can have several fracking wells, each using million gallons of clean water, the total impact of the hydraulic fracturing operations can have drastic impacts on the amount of clean water available to the community. Fracking sucks clean water out of communities across the nation to mix with toxins and sand in order to drill for oil. After the fracking process, the once clean water is contaminated with toxins, some radioactive and carcinogenic, and disposed of as wastewater. Out of the billions of clean water used, “fracking wells nationwide produced an estimated 280 billion gallons of wastewater in 2012” (Environmental America, 2013). Billions of gallons of once clean water are destroyed by hydraulic fracturing. In a country where thousands of citizens live in drought ridden or contaminated areas, fracking companies are allowed to turn clean, fresh, water into filthy wastewater. This wastewater is then disposed of in a variety of ways, with small amounts being recycled. Not only does fracking use and destroy