How Hydro-Fracking Contaminates Water

Link to this: TinyURL.com/EightWaysFrackingPollutesWater

Ever hear "There has been no recorded cases of water contamination from hydrofracking?"
Well it's a lie. The frackers use some semantic shenanigans, i.e., a "narrow definition" and also a demand for a kind of proof which science can never provide.

http://williamahuston.blogspot.com/2013/04/horizontal-drilling-has-never.html

TRUTH IS: Water Contamination from Fracking is common and systemic.
In actual fact, there have been many recorded cases of water contamination from vertical wells. Walter Hang from Toxics Targeting has investigated and mapped many of these. 

Also check http://johnnywunder.info/wiki/index.php/Wiki:Current_events . 

Check Gastem's Ross#1 well it Otsego county. 

Many others are listed in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_fURJ5DCSA

The New York Times documented water contamination from conventional drilling and vertical fracking going back to the 1980s! http://blog.shaleshockmedia.org/2013/03/25/new-yorks-first-dimock-dec-fails-to-regulate-gas-drilling/

There are over 400 families in just one Pennsylvania county on replacement water (Source: Assembly Member Barbara Lifton)

HOW Fracking Contaminates Water
There are eight primary ways that fracking for natural gas contaminates surface water and/or underground sources of water.

1) Gas and fluids escape to the surface outside the outer casing of the annulus.

This is extremely common. Industry sources report an initial failure rate of casings at ~6.5%. This grows to ~40% over 30 years. 100% fail eventually as the concrete shrinks and cracks, and due to seismic activity and natural movements of the earth.

2) Gas and fluids migrate into aquifers via natural fractures and faults. 
 This image is from The Duke Study: http://www.nicholas.duke.edu/cgc/pnas2011.pdf 
which shows that methane contamination of underground water sources is correlated to proximity to gas wells:




3) Gas and fluids migrate to the surface via abandoned/orphaned gas wells.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFcZn2_XiPA
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjLKXluXRZs

4) Surface spills of fluids, or leaks from toxic "produced water" empoundment ponds.

Worstell Impoundment, Cecil PA

5) Intentional illegal dumping of untreated wastes onto land or into storm drains, or creeks.  

6) Permitted dumping into POTWs

These Publicly Owned Treatment Works are mostly not capable for treating this kind of waste. The best they can do is dilute these wastes, then dump them into the river untreated. 

7) Permitted dumping via "Beneficial Use" 

Spreading Frack-wastes on roads for "dust control" as a "beneficial use", Warren Center, PA.
http://williamahuston.blogspot.com/2012/12/pa-now-allows-dumping-fracking-fluids.html

Blake Ridge, WV

8) Leachate from landfills which accept drill cuttings