Fracking Contaminating Wells throughout Pennsylvania and New York
Article: “Study Finds Methane Contamination Rises Near Shale Gas
Wells” by Mike Soraghan
Summary: Researchers at Duke University claim
that they have discovered the potential for contamination of drinking water
from drilling in Pennsylvania and New York. Overall, the researchers were able
to conclude that eighty-five percent of wells in Pennsylvania and upstate New
York were contaminated by methane. The study found that higher levels of
methane were found in well water near drilling areas. This study is quite
controversial since the team did not look at the levels of methane before the
drilling took place to get a baseline level. Drilling industry groups have
stated that the difference in methane levels could simply be from the areas
being geographically different having nothing to do with drilling. It is
uncertain if methane in drinking water can lead to health problems but methane
buildups have been responsible for house explosions. The researchers believe
that more studies are necessary to determine new methane levels, health effects
of methane in drinking water and whether or not the chemicals in the fracturing
liquid are contaminating groundwater. The
Duke researchers have suggested that there should be more industry and
government regulation under the Safe Water Drinking Act.
Opinion/Reflection: After
reading both the researchers’ and the drilling industry representatives’
positions on the study findings, I agree that more studies need to be done to
determine the true effects of drilling on well water in Pennsylvania and New
York. I believe the study has some serious flaws and does not give enough
evidence of contamination from drilling. I am also not aware of any health
threats of methane in water. I do know that if methane escapes from water and
is contained in poorly ventilated areas, it can cause asphyxiation or
explosions. However, there are steps that can be taken to prevent that, such as
installing vents in wells. Overall, without new evidence, I think the economic
benefits that we gain from drilling currently outweigh the concerns of the
contamination of well water. However, if future studies show that the water is
being made unsafe by the fracturing fluid used in drilling or more health
conditions are proven to be related to methane levels in water, drilling should
be banned immediately.
1. Do
you think that the study is valid without the original levels of methane before
the drilling began? Why or why not?
2. Do
you think that the water in wells is being contaminated due to drilling near
wells? Why or why not?
3. If
the methane levels in drinking water are rising because of drilling (fracking),
do you think that we should ban fracking?
I agree with Kelly. This study definitely has some major issues. For instance, the well could hae been unknowingly built directly above an underground pocket of methane, and the gases could be leaking in from there. Also, with the baseline levels of methane not being taken, the methane could have been in the well long before the "fracking" began. Lastly, if there were higher concentrations of methane in wells near drilling areas, this just be the result of large amounts of methane already in the ground. They are drilling there for a reason!
ReplyDeleteAnswering a question:
1. I do not think that this study is valid without the original levels of methane because the methane could have already been in high amounts in those wells, and the researchers would have had no idea, and just base their report off of the fact that there was methane in the wells.
Opinion/ Reflection: I agree with Kelly. The re should be more studies to determine the effect on drilling on well water. The people do not really know if the methane is actually coming from the drilling that is occurring.
ReplyDeleteAnswer to Question: If methane levels in drinking water are rising because of drilling (fracking), do you think that we should ban fracking?
I believe that something should be done about fracking, but that they should not completely ban it. They should either reduce it or find a safer way of doing so that it does not contaminate the water as much.
This is a very interesting topic to address. No one feel comfortable drinking water infested with contaminates like methane. The medical hazards are unknown making this situation quite risky. I personally cannot accept the idea of drinking water tainted by methane. We cannot accurately determine how severe this threat really is. Many more scientific studies on how methane effects the human body must be done. However, I do believe that the drilling industry is to blame for high methane levels in our drinking water. Groundwater is cleansed of all contaminates upon filling an aquifer, and saying methane passed the filter into our groundwater is absurd.
ReplyDelete3. Drilling shouldn't be banned, but strictly regulated. All too often drilling accidents lead to natural catastrophe. Are people really accepting of the idea that methane "might be" save? One wrong move drilling and a large water supply could be left completely unusable by methane. Fracking should not be allowed to occur in areas where a large body of water is used.