Fracking Water Use Draining Resources, Especially In Western U.S., New Studies Find

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The natural gas extraction technique known as fracking uses so much water that it could threaten groundwater resources, especially in the Western U.S., two new reports conclude.

The first report (pdf), from the Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC), found that hydraulic fracking removes 7 billion gallons of water every year in just four states: North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and Colorado. The organization blames inadequate federal and state-level protections for the use and/or contamination of fresh water. "Fracking's growing demand for water can threaten availability of water for agriculture and Western rural communities," WORC board member Bob LeResche said in a prepared release. He also told The Dickinson Press that "Unless our states take real action soon, we stand to watch our agricultural economies, and even our human habitation of some places, disappear. Ninety-nine percent of rural Americans rely on groundwater for their domestic needs, as do 51 percent of all Americans."

WORC is calling on states to improve the way they monitor and regulate oil and gas drilling, especially where it affects water — and in many states, water issues are handled by multiple agencies, none of which take full responsibility for water usage.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/09/fracking-water-use-draining-water_n_3239879.html?utm_hp_ref=green

[denverbill]

1. Yes, we are in a Stage I drought in Colorado, but frackers don't seem to have any water limits.

[Ilsa]

2. How can citizens not know this already?

Especially in places like drought-stricken Texas? Corpus cChristi is entering Stage 3 water conservation measures on May 16 already. People there are hoping for hurricanes to bring them relief.

[LeftInTX]

4. Ahh hurricanes!! The great wet hope!!!

Can anyone say: Don

[mbperrin]

3. Ahhh, quit worryin'!

We kin always drink the oil!

Now quitcher snivelin!

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5. Letter: We’ll all pay for fracking impact

Just a good example
Letter: We’ll all pay for fracking impact The North Dakota GOP is trying to pass their extreme and irresponsible agenda and attempting to give tax breaks to wealthy oil companies instead of focusing on North Dakota families.

The North Dakota GOP is trying to pass their extreme and irresponsible agenda and attempting to give tax breaks to wealthy oil companies instead of focusing on North Dakota families.

What does this agenda do for the state of North Dakota? In Wyoming, when the water became too fowled from fracking to even shower in, the oil companies did not build a multimillion-dollar water pipeline to the residents, the federal government did.

It’s no different than North Dakota today. We are destroying the ground water. It has been proved in many other places, but misinformed lawmakers see only dollar signs. When the farmers have drained and tiled and floods are unmanageable in Fargo, Grand Forks and Wahpeton, all along the Red River, it’s not the farmers or even the state government that comes in to build the flood control. In fact, North Dakota’s political leaders are waiting for the federal government to come in and commit to something before they will even lift a finger.

http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/399488/group/Opinion/