Problem – Hydraulic Fracturing and Water Quality Impairment
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The Marcellus Shale, a geological rock formation beneath portions of West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York, is believed to contain significant reserves of natural gas located several thousand feet beneath Earth’s surface (PDEP). Historically, the north central, northeastern and southwestern regions of Pennsylvania have not been developed for the purposed of gas drilling (PDEP). Therefore, these regions have been suggested to be “especially productive” (PDEP) and in the last decade have been extensively exploited with the construction and support of approximately 71,000 active wells (New York Times). Substantial growth was met with a flood of public outcry in recent years as the waterfall of environmental and health consequences associated with hydraulic fracturing, also known as “fracking”, became more fully understood. The process produces wastewater laced with known carcinogens, radioactive elements, and corrosive salts that have adverse repercussions to surrounding environments and water quality (New York Times). At the direction of the administration and Congress, the EPA has initiated a study of the effects of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources (EPA 2011)
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The Lower Allegheny Watershed contains areas that are currently exploiting natural gas resources as evident in the maps below. An investigation found natural gas wells throughout the region to contain wastewater polluted with radium, benzene, and gross alpha (a product of uranium and radium emissions) at levels anywhere from 20 to 1500 times higher than the accepted federal limits (New York Times). The Pittsburg Post-Gazette reported that the Pittsburg Water and Sewer Authority, which draws from the Allegheny, reported rising bromide levels during the last six months. Although ongoing investigation and research to determine the source of these increases is currently underway, a majority of specialists and professionals believe improper treatment of hydraulic fracturing wastewater is to blame. Increasing bromides are cause for concern because, upon entering a water treatment facility, they react with chlorine (intended to sanitize water) to produce brominated trihalomethane; a volatile organic liquid compound, known carcinogen, and birth defect inducer (Post-Gazette).
Recommendation 1.1 – Prohibit Treatment of Hydraulic Fracturing Wastewater in Public Wastewater Treatment Facilities
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Pennsylvania is the only state that allows wastewater produced by hydraulic fracturing to be treated in public wastewater treatment facilities (New York Times). A majority of water treatment facilities are not able to properly treat toxic wastewater properly. This water is then discharged into waterways that provide drinking water for municipalities downstream (New York Times). Pittsburgh, the Lower Allegheny Watershed’s largest municipality, is downstream from four municipal water treatment facilities and four brine facilities that currently handle and discharge wastewater from the Marcellus Shale. Therefore, as Pittsburg draws water from the Allegheny River for drinking purposes, any untreated chemicals discharged upstream may end up in drinking water sources should the treatment facility be unable to remove them (Post-Gazette). To protect the Lower Allegheny watershed, we recommend prohibiting the treatment of hydraulic fracturing water in public wastewater treatment plants. Removing brominated trihalomethanes is more difficult than keeping bromide sources low in raw water source, which is why prohibiting hydraulic fracturing wastewater in public wastewater treatment plants is a valuable tool in improving water quality. (Post-Gazette) Retrofitting existing treatment facilities to manage hydraulic fracturing wastewater could be expensive, however the taxes collected from local drilling could be dedicated to cover these costs.
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Recommendation 1.2 – Implementation of Subsurface Storage Tanks
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Pennsylvania is the only state that does not require storage of hydraulic fracturing wastewater in subsurface storage tanks located beneath impermeable layers. Environmental and water resources risks associated with the discharge of hydraulic fracturing wastewater can be decreased with appropriate storage. Temporary storage of this toxic wastewater until dedicated hydraulic fracturing treatment technologies are installed in water treatment plants is recommended.
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Recommendation 1.3 – Moratorium on New Wells
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We recommend a moratorium on construction of new drilling wells since the environmental and health effects of the chemicals involved in the hydraulic fracturing process are not entirely understood at this point in time. This would prevent additional toxic wastewater from entering public treatment plants and surrounding waterways until suitable environmental assessments and required treatment technologies are installed.
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Recommendation 1.4 – Public Education
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We recommend the implementation of a public education program in the dangers of hydraulic fracturing in order to gain support in execution of proposed recommendations 1.1-1.3. Public knowledge is key to promoting energy company liability and safer processes.
References
EPA: Environmental Protection Agency (2011). Hydraulic Fracturing: HF Homepage. Retrieved April 5, 2011 from http://water.epa.gov/type/groundwater/uic/class2/hydraulicfracturing/index.cfm
