Earlier this month, the EPA released a report detailing the link between fracking and drinking water, entitled “Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas: Impacts from the Hydraulic Fracturing Water Cycle on Drinking Water Resources in the United States.” The EPA’s research concluded that there is evidence of the impact hydraulic fracturing has on drinking water in certain situations, such as in areas of minimal water resources; fracking spills that contaminate groundwater; and groundwater resources and wells that have been injected with fracking fluids. The report was unable to measure the severity of the impacts on drinking water due to “data gaps and uncertainties.”

The report indicated that public water systems are required to undergo routine monitoring and testing as per the National Primary Drinking Water Standards, whereas non-public water systems do not have these requirements, which can make them more vulnerable to contaminations. Approximately 58% of public water supply is sourced from surface water, while the remaining 42% is represented from groundwater.

The EPA’s research found that during the chemical mixing stage to make hydraulic fracturing fluid, there have been reports of chemical spills and fluids reaching soil and water receptors, yet there is a lack of post-spill testing and sampling to document the effects, which is needed in order to adequately address and remedy the issue. Testing is required to determine the mechanical integrity of wells, and also to monitor pre- and post-fracking water quality so as to detect the movement of fracking fluids in drinking water to prevent and mitigate the harsh effects that contaminated drinking water may pose. There is also a lack of field compaction testing that needs to be addressed, as well as pressure testing of fracking casings to ensure the casing is not problematic.

The report calls for the need for “assessment, sampling, analytical testing, and reporting of water quality associated with oil and gas well stimulation activities.” This includes area-specific monitoring, which includes groundwater monitoring for all fracking projects that began after July 2015, as well as reported information from well officers regarding any human or natural features that could impact the groundwater, well construction and fracking fluid. A regional monitoring program is also recommended, in which groundwater monitoring data would be submitted to a state-maintained database for further reference and investigation on the impacts of fracking on drinking water.

Source: EPA Office of Research and Development