Fracking Chemicals in Your Water

November 18, 2008 rockman Miscellaneous Comments Off on Fracking Chemicals in Your Water
hydraulic fracuturing for natural gas extraction

hydraulic fracuturing for natural gas extractionThe good folks at Geology.com have pointed out a very interesting and alarming article on hazardous chemicals that may be used in the Hydrofrac process of natural gas extraction and their impact on groundwater. The article in Scientific American points out that a 2004 EPA study concluded that there were no hazards to groundwater associated with the hydrofrac process, and the oil and gas industries have pointed to that study when repeating their mantra that there is no proof of environmental problems with hydraulic fracturing to extract natural gas.

The focus of the article is that there is no accountability by the gas drilling companies, and they are not disclosing the composition of the fluid used in the hydraulic fracturing process, which is thought to contain chemicals that are harmfull in sufficient quantities if they make it into the groundwater. And according to the article at least, there have been a number of suspiious incidences of groundwater contamination in the area of gas wells, including high concentrations of benzene, a component of diesel fuel which is thought to be one component of the hydraulic fracturing fluid. (Illustration from “Our Petroleum Challenge” – Center for Energy)

Related Articles

60-ft plus deep sinkhole in Frostproof takes a carport, threatens a house
Geologic Hazards

Dozens of Sinkholes in Plant City, Florida after Farmers Pump Extra Water Trying to Protect Crops from Bitter Cold

March 8, 2010 rockman Geologic Hazards 1

60-ft plus deep sinkhole in Frostproof takes a carport, threatens a houseIn early January of this year, Florida experienced some unusually cold temperatures that forced Plant City area strawberry farmers to pump extra groundwater to try to protect their crops. Over the course of about 11 days, the groundwater table in areas of Plant City was lowered by as much as 60-ft.

Almost immediately as many as 80 sinkholes began opening up around that region. Including ones that jeopardized a 500,000-gallon water tower, several that shut down an elementary school and numerous ones that shut down roads and highways and affected individual property owners. Around 20 local homeowners were left homeless after sinkholes left their house uninhabitable. For comparison, based on data from Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Sinkhole Database for the period of 1998 to 2008 (the last year for which data is available), 77 sinkholes were reported to have opened up in Polk, Pasco and Hillsborough counties combined.

Local officials are seeking help from the State and FEMA to cover the estimated $3 million in damages.  That figure is double what Plant City received from FEMA for the particularly bad 2004 hurricane season. And that dollar amount does not include what individual homeowners and property owners will be seeking from their insurance carriers. (Photos by Tampa Bay Online)

Read on for maps of Plant City sinkhole locations and more information.

[…]