*ahem*

[ProSense]

71. Stop trying.

"There are plenty of reasons to despise fracking. The total volume of water used to drill? Not one of them. "

Exactly. It's like you said:

"It sounds like a lot because we are used to thinking about personal or group consumption. But relative to consumption of the population of a country or even a state, it is inconsequential. "

Beyond that, this OP is in response to a claim that was challenged by someone. The person made the point in a rude way, but it was still valid: fracking doesn't cause droughts.

Here is the point in the other piece that was challenged:

"the drought-causing national practice of fracking"

Here is the point in this OP:

“Hydraulic fracturing is increasing competitive pressures for water in some of the country’s most water-stressed and drought-ridden regions,” said Mindy Lubber, president of the Ceres green investors’ network."

That's correct, and does not support the claim that fracking is "drought-causing."

Fracking is a practice of injecting water into the ground. The amount of water usage is of concern when the "competitive pressures for water' increase. Given the amount of consumption you cited, this would be a grave concern in a prolonged drought, when water shortages become severe.

A drought is a climate phenomenon that has nothing to do with water consumption.

The orginal claim was challenged, but no one wants to hear the facts...because.