A great deal of attention has been given to potential water contamination and the associated potential health effects of hydraulic fracturing (fracking), but water consumption is rapidly becoming a larger issue in the public discussion, particularly in areas already facing water scarcity. Two recent reports bring additional attention to the issue, highlighting the potential impacts of excessive water withdrawals used to support fracking operations.
An April 25 report, Gone for Good: Fracking and Water Loss in the West, by the Western Organization of Research Councils provides an overview of consumptive water use in four arid western states (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming). Based on analyses of available resources, including FracFocus, there are wide discrepancies in estimated water use by fracking operations with cumulative estimates of water use falling far short of portraying the actual impact. The report concludes: “There is mounting evidence that the current level of water use for oil and gas production simply cannot be sustained, and that projected increases in use may lead to a crisis.”
A second report, Hydraulic Fracturing & Water Stress: Growing Competitive Pressures for Water, released last week by Ceres, focuses on the distribution of water consumption from fracking projects as it relates to existing, non-fracking water demand. The main takeaway from the report is that in the time frame studied, 47 percent of fracking wells were operating in areas of high or extremely high water stress, and 75 percent were operated in areas of medium or higher water stress.
Taken together, these two new reports highlight the importance of maintaining a close watch on the potential impacts of fracking on not only the quality, but also the quantity of available water resources.