Hydraulic fracking uses large amounts of water and chemicals pumped through underground rock to cause fractures to extract natural gas. Recently though federal environmental officials have investigated pollutants linked to these practices. In Wyoming people have begun to have a noticeable effect on their tap water. These researchers have linked fracturing to pollution of water causing toxic drinking water.
There are running debates on if fracking is a viable method in the extraction of natural gases or if it creates too much pollution irrepably damaging the area. Fracking companies stand by their claim that fracking is an overall safe process and that it would not pollute the water supply. They claim that if there is water contamination it is rather a fluke than a common occurance.
The EPA has found a different story, they have found hydrocarbons and contaminates that they believe is linked to fracking. This was later confirmed by a second round of sampling. The EPA released their findings and noted how they found chemicals used specifically in the fracking process. The fracking wells are far underground which lead the fracking companies to believe that there is no way for chemicals to reach drinking water. Even though these are far below some of the chemicals will always find its way into the drinking water.
I believe that fracking is an unsafe process; the name fracking just sounds bad involving the fracturing of the underground rock. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s found that fracking causes geologic instability to accompany its water pollution issue. Fracking causes evident dangers in the method used today. Better techniques need to be figured out if fracking is to be a viable energy source.
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