Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Diamond_Dog

(41,042 posts)
Mon May 18, 2026, 06:11 PM 15 hrs ago

ProPublica: Oily Sludge Is Flooding Their Dream Home. Oklahoma Regulators Say They Can't Help.

It was their dream home, a newly built, 2,500-square-foot modern farmhouse with a playroom that Mitch and Kara Meredith had saved for 12 years to buy for their growing family. During construction, family members had written their favorite Bible verses on studs throughout the house. For four idyllic years on Darlene Lane, the couple hosted birthday parties for their two young daughters, who became fast friends with the other children in the recently built subdivision in Fort Gibson.

(snip)

When their 7-year-old ran into the garage to report that water was all over the floor, Mitch assumed a pipe had burst, or perhaps the toilet was backed up.
Then he entered the bathroom. A thick, black fluid with an oily sheen covered the floor. Kara yelled from their bedroom for him to come quickly; the same substance was flowing out of the floor next to their bed.
Mitch, along with several family members, fought the flood all night, vacuuming up the sludge and emptying buckets out the window. Black goo covered their arms. Shiny rainbow patterns covered their shoes. After pulling the bathtub away from the wall, Mitch saw that the substance was gushing through the house’s foundation. It was clear this wasn’t a plumbing problem.

(snip)

The Frontier and ProPublica’s reporting on oil and gas pollution in Oklahoma over the last year has shown how old oil wells abandoned by the industry pose severe public and environmental health risks. Officially, the state lists 19,000 orphan wells that state regulators are responsible for cleaning up, but the true figure is likely over 300,000, according to federal researchers.

Much more at link

https://www.propublica.org/article/oklahoma-oil-regulators-fort-gibson-meredith-family?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=propublica-bsky

7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
ProPublica: Oily Sludge Is Flooding Their Dream Home. Oklahoma Regulators Say They Can't Help. (Original Post) Diamond_Dog 15 hrs ago OP
You voted for it gay texan 15 hrs ago #1
Too bad you live in a state that bends over backwards and blows itself for the oil & gas industry . . . hatrack 14 hrs ago #2
Oklahoma is such a sad state UpInArms 14 hrs ago #3
To that family: ask your daddy DJT for help! IzzaNuDay 14 hrs ago #4
MarkWayne is a plumber .... Call him for help. Diamond_Dog 14 hrs ago #5
oh, snap! IzzaNuDay 8 hrs ago #7
I think there is a song about this... lapfog_1 14 hrs ago #6

hatrack

(65,145 posts)
2. Too bad you live in a state that bends over backwards and blows itself for the oil & gas industry . . .
Mon May 18, 2026, 06:43 PM
14 hrs ago

And always has since statehood.

Oh well.

lapfog_1

(31,979 posts)
6. I think there is a song about this...
Mon May 18, 2026, 07:19 PM
14 hrs ago

Come and listen to my story
'Bout a man named Jed
A poor mountaineer,
Barely kept his family fed.
And then one day
He was shootin' at some food,
And up through the ground came a-bubblin' crude.

Oil that is, black gold, Texas tea.

Well the first thing you know
Ol' Jed's a millionaire,
Kinfolk said "Jed move away from there".
Said "California's the place you outta be".
So they loaded up the truck
And they moved to Beverly.

Hills that is, Swimming pools, movie stars.


There was a reason Jed and his kin had to "move away from there"

Kick in to the DU tip jar?

This week we're running a special pop-up mini fund drive. From Monday through Friday we're going ad-free for all registered members, and we're asking you to kick in to the DU tip jar to support the site and keep us financially healthy.

As a bonus, making a contribution will allow you to leave kudos for another DU member, and at the end of the week we'll recognize the DUers who you think make this community great.

Tell me more...

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»ProPublica: Oily Sludge I...