The fracking process involves huge amounts of water. To ensure that fracking does not contaminate nearby water sources, companies often dig frac ponds near wells. Fracking Ponds are usually lined with thick plastic to contain leaks and keep fracking fluid out. While frac ponds are affordable and convenient, they are not without their drawbacks. Here’s more information on frac ponds.
While the public has a right to know where fracking takes place, many people are concerned that a site’s water source is unclean. To combat this, SkyTruth has been studying aerial images of the affected area. The group has been studying these images since 2005 and questioned their accuracy. While it is true that volunteers have been trained to identify frack ponds from duck ponds, they have not been able to distinguish toxic from non-toxic freshwater holding ponds.
The EPA considers naturally occurring volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to be contaminants that pose a threat to drinking and surface water. As a result, the EPA has banned the treatment of fracking wastewater at publicly owned treatment plants. But drillers can choose which wastewater treatment methods to use. This approach can save up to $150 000 per well. In addition, it allows well operators to reuse water in their frac ponds instead of trucking it around.
The oil and gas commission is examining whether or not the leaky fracking pond is a threat to the environment and public safety. As of July 14, 2017, the oil and gas commission ordered the company that owns the fracking pond to empty the pond and cover the cost of trucking out contaminated liquids. While this action is pending, the oil and gas commission is still conducting the review. It is unclear how long it will take to resolve the matter, but the state’s oil and gas commission has said it is willing to work with it.
The study by John Hopkins University scientists is the latest in an effort to determine whether fracking is a contributing factor to poor health. The researchers are trying to identify a link between fracking and asthma and have partnered with the environmental nonprofit organization Sky Truth to map fracking waste ponds. The project involved 200 volunteers who screened satellite images for fracking ponds. The team found hundreds of new fracking ponds around Pennsylvania.
Hydraulic fracturing sites often contain various types of pits and ponds. They may include retention ponds, fire prevention ponds, freshwater pits for pumping into wells, and flowback pits. Unlike other water features, hydraulic frac pits are designed with special considerations for their use. Aside from their size, they must also be resistant to high temperatures and pressures. If you want to learn more about fracking ponds, read on!
Although fracking wastewater is not regulated at the federal level, many states have adopted regulations regarding the safe disposal of wastewater from fracking. State regulations mandate the construction, operation, and location of noncommercial fracking ponds. In Louisiana, producers are required to disclose the chemical composition of the hydraulic fracturing fluids used in fracking. Regardless of the state’s laws, environmentalists say that fracking ponds are a contributing factor to a growing environmental problem.
The use of fracking fluid has the potential to harm wildlife. As fracking fluid leaches into the soil, it can potentially contaminate rivers, streams, and aquifer systems. Moreover, methane and benzene, two of the chemicals used in fracking, have been proven to cause cancer and cause birth defects in a number of humans. In addition, the practice of fracking has increased the amount of ozone in the air, raising the risks of asthma and other respiratory diseases.
The amount of freshwater required for fracking varies, but is estimated to be anywhere from 7.5 million to twenty million gallons of water. This water is equivalent to three to eight Olympic-size swimming pools. Environmental groups have argued that this consumption is unsustainable in new areas. So far, there are no clear data on the impact of fracking on waterfowl. However, it does appear that there are some significant concerns to consider.