Chapter 4 - A Review of Drinking Water Contamination Associated with Hydraulic Fracturing

Abstract

The focus of this chapter is on surface and groundwater located within areas where hydraulic fracturing for petroleum recovery is used – water, which has historically, presently, or may in the future serve as a drinking water resource. There are drinking water exposure pathways throughout the hydraulic fracturing water cycle. Two case studies, one in Dimock, PA and one in Pavillion, WY, shed light on the process of determining water contamination as a result of hydraulic fracturing. Ground and surface water contamination has been associated with fracking activities; though the contamination often is related to operational issues, human error, rather than subsurface hydraulic fracturing itself. Continued monitoring of groundwater, both pre- and posthydraulic fracturing as well as groundwater sampling events covering longer durations, will be key to identifying and preventing drinking source water contamination in the future.