Arsenic found in water near US fracking sites
19 Aug 2013
Researchers have discovered elevated levels of contaminants such as arsenic and selenium in water near the Barnett Shale extraction sites across north Texas.
The US study, published last month by online journal Environmental Science & Technology, found that potentially harmful levels of arsenic, selenium and strontium were detected in 99 of the 100 water samples taken.
Although naturally occurring in the region’s water, researchers found that levels of arsenic were “significantly higher” in the active extraction areas when compared to non-extraction sites.
University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) graduate Brian Fontenot said: “We expect this to be the first of multiple projects that will ultimately help the scientific community, the natural gas industry, and most importantly, the public, understand the effects of natural gas drilling on water quality.”
In June, a study led by researchers at Duke University in the US found high levels of contamination in water meant for human consumption, suggesting that hydraulic fracturing in the area was the cause of increased volumes of methane, ethane and propane in the local water supply.
Our study alone can’t conclusively identify the exact causes of elevated levels of contaminants
UTA graduate Brian Fontenot
However, Fontenot added:“(Our) study alone can’t conclusively identify the exact causes of elevated levels of contaminants in areas near natural gas drilling.”
He said that increased levels of metal could have been caused by “the removal of water used for the hydraulic fracturing process”.
Of the 100 samples taken from various locations around the Barnett Shale, 29 wells were found to contain more than 10 micrograms per litre of arsenic, exceeding the US Environmental Protection Agency Maximum Contaminant Limit for such substances.
