Water plays a major role in the production of oil and gas from shale formations by the use of hydraulic fracturing. Within the past several years, concerns have been raised about the reduction of citizens’ water supplies due to the large volume of water used in the fracturing process, the alleged contamination of aquifers and water wells that supply drinking water, and the appropriate disposal of or recycling of the flowback or produced water.
Topics cover include hydraulic fracturing’s water cycle (from source to disposal), studies concerning the impact of fracturing on drinking water resources, lawsuits alleging water contamination from fracking, and federal and state regulations relating to fracking fluid disclosure.
