During the past 10 years, hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, has led to a boom in natural fuel production, adding hundreds of billions of dollars of increased revenue to the industry, but also raising pollution concerns.
According to a study by the Associated Press, a number of states have confirmed incidents of well-water contamination from oil or gas drilling.
Among the findings in the AP study:
- Pennsylvania has confirmed at least 106 well-water contamination cases since 2005.
- Ohio had 59 complaints in 2012 and two confirmed contaminations. The state also had two confirmed contaminations in 2013 with 14 investigations still underway.
- West Virginia has had about 120 complaints of drilling contaminations, four of the cases resulting in corrective action from the relevant drilling company.
- Texas reported more than 2,000 complaints of contamination, 62 of them possibly resulting from oil and gas activity.
Complaints can include short-term diminished water flow and pollution from gas or other substances.
A 2011 Penn State study found that 40 percent of water in wells tested prior to drilling failed at least one federal drinking water standard in Pennsylvania.
Pollution involving methane is the most common type of water contamination, which is not brought on by drilling methods.
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