Fracking Linked to Groundwater Pollution, Including High Levels of Carcinogens
In an earlier post we wrote about an EPA report out Thursday that links fracking with groundwater contamination. I asked the EPA about the health risks of drinking that water, and here’s their response.
“Our concern is about the migration of contaminants in the aquifer andthe safety of drinking water wells over time. Sample results indicatethat a number of drinking water and stock wells have low-leveldetections of organic compounds. In monitoring wells, health and safetyvalues for several contaminants were exceeded, including benzeneconcentrations orders of magnitude above Safe Drinking Water Actstandards and pH at levels that present a contact and ingestion threat.These monitoring wells are in close proximity to drinking water wells.There is no known geologic barrier separating the contamination found inthe monitoring wells from the water in nearby drinking water wells.Without more information on flow direction and contaminant movement,significant uncertainty exists regarding specific future impacts todrinking water wells. Our sample results reflect a single snapshot intime and we are unable to determine any trends or changes in condition.”