By Elizabeth Zach, RCAC staff writer
In the past decade, scientists have been saying that hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, causes earthquakes, contaminates groundwater and increases hydrocarbon emissions. Now, a study shows that the drilling practice requires much more water than was originally thought.
The study authors, publishing in the journal Science Advances, note that water use per well at one of the sites they looked at increased by as much as 770 percent from 2011 to 2016. Wastewater volumes increased also – by as much as 1,440 percent.
The scientists examined six major U.S. fracking sites, and focused on the number of wells drilled, the amount of water required for fracking, and the volume of wastewater produced. The upshot is less drinking water for residents in drier regions around the country who rely namely on the wells.
“(This study) necessitates a need to find alternative water sources,” Andrew Kondash, the study’s lead author, told City Lab. “Especially in water-scarce areas, you will have more strain and more competition for water. If you’re able to use more remedial sources, like wastewater, or to recycle some of the flow-back and produced water … that solves some of the problems that the industry is currently facing.”
To read more, go here: https://www.citylab.com/environment/2018/08/the-amount-of-water-used-in-fracking-has-increased-dramatically/567730/
