Science Bulletin May/June 2014 Debate Issue | Page 26

Dirty

Mason Peeples- The biggest issue with fracking is the contamination of groundwater. There have been reports that of water contaminated with methane, which becomes so contaminated it turns brown. There have also been videos of people setting tap water on fire, because of the high levels of methane it holds. According to a study done by Duke University, methane levels in water have seen an increase since fracking began in Pennsylvania. Why use a method to harvest energy that harms the drinking water of the people who receive the energy.

Grant Regen- Shale is not the only material underground. Most local water supplies originate from deep underground water pools. When fracking is implemented this water can be compromised. Robert Jackson, a chemical engineer at Duke University found methane in 115 out of 141 shallow residential drinking wells. Not only does this point to contaminated water, but also fracking. The same 2013 study found that high methane concentrations in homes less than a mile away from fracking wells were six times higher than homes farther away. As chemical rich water rises it can easily leak into the water reserves.

Katie Boydston- Companies drill long tunnels down deep below the surface of the earth, to a rock called shale. Once this is done, they force sand, water, and unknown chemicals down the pipe. The pressure from this, breaks the shale, releasing the natural gas back up the tube. This natural gas is very profitable, but the method of obtaining it is dangerous. Around fracking, contaminated water, and ruined environments are common. Methane contamination wells near fracking very often (17 times more likely than groundwater away from wells).

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