If you've lost your water quality and potability, don't feel alone. EPA, after 5 years of study has confirmed that Hydraulic Fracturing in Gas Drilling, which is happening at over 500 sites in our county can cause water changes and contamination.
Well casing failures, spills, pits without liners and other reasons have caused water contamination in our county (and others) where there is gas drilling.
There are over a dozen townships in our county with water contamination and pollution issues and DEP has verified many of them. Read the report and don't be shy about reporting any changes to your water to the DEP and keep track of any pre-drill, water tests you may have.
Here is the link for the latest EPA report on this issue: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-releases-final-report-impacts-hydraulic-fracturing-activities-drinking-water
Here is the list from the EPA that can cause negative water issues to our water wells:
"As part of the report, EPA identified certain conditions under which impacts from hydraulic fracturing activities can be more frequent or severe, including:
- Water withdrawals for hydraulic fracturing in times or areas of low water availability, particularly in areas with limited or declining groundwater resources;
- Spills during the management of hydraulic fracturing fluids and chemicals or produced water that result in large volumes or high concentrations of chemicals reaching groundwater resources;
- Injection of hydraulic fracturing fluids into wells with inadequate mechanical integrity, allowing gases or liquids to move to groundwater resources;
- Injection of hydraulic fracturing fluids directly into groundwater resources;
- Discharge of inadequately treated hydraulic fracturing wastewater to surface water resources; and
- Disposal or storage of hydraulic fracturing wastewater in unlined pits, resulting in contamination of groundwater resources."
If you would like more information, contact my email at veraduerga@gmail.com
Sincerely,
Vera Scroggins
Brackney, PA