In a recent article in the TribLIve News, journalist Liz Hayes reports on water quality issues linked to "fracking" methods used to mine natural gas and oil. She includes recommendations from water quality educator Dana Rizzo for land owners considering leasing land to a natural gas mining company. The article provides valuable information on the potential risks of allowing hydraulic fracturing to be performed on privately owned properties.
Hydraulic fracturing is an increasingly common strategy for extracting natural gas from beneath the Earth’s surface. Mllions of gallons of water mixed with sand and other chemical additives are pumped into wells to fracture the shale and force out the gas. This process requires importing large quantities of the "fracking" solution to the well site. The chemical solution is often stored in large ponds lined with a protective barrier to prevent leakage.
A concern is that the fracking solution and dissolved natural gas (and natural gas byproducts) may enter the water table from which drinking water wells are supplied.
However, Rizzo points out that the fracking solutions stored In the surface holding ponds may pose a greater risk for contamination than the deep drilling wells. The ponds may be closer to the water table, so accidental spills or defective pond lining could contaminate underground water supplies. Chemicals such as chloride and barium may be present in the fracking solution. In large doses, exposure can lead to cardiovascular diseases or kidney damage.
Rizzo suggests that landowners who are considering leasing their land to a hydraulic fracturing company should have an independent, state-certified lab test their water before mining begins. Since many of the chemicals used in the fracturing process are naturally present at background levels, baseline testing can determine the starting levels and any changes after the mining has started. The cost can be built into the leasing contract.
The article offers insightful strategies to minimize the risk to health and safety of those who choose to allow hydraulic fracturing on their property. This type of information – which may have previously been less accessible to the public – will allow property owners to make informed decisions on an issue that may affect the water quality in their homes.
