Thursday, July 28, 2011
Just Earthquakes? Or more...
Current drilling in Arkansas may lead to more than minor earthquakes. The "fracking" process, which is part of drilling for natural gas, results in salt water as a by-product. According to Fox News, this by-product is referred to as "toxic wastewater." I never thought of salt water as being labeled toxic. That makes me wonder if our water table might be affected as well. Water, a natural resource of our state, is easily contaminated. Any liquid dispersed into the ground will seep into our drinking water eventually. Well-water in the region might be instantly contaminated. That would stink! On a more positive note, four hundred-twelve companies are busily working in the oil and gas industry in our state (FoxNews). Consequently, a multitude of jobs are available to our residents. Arkansas is a state under economic stress and the extra income never hurts our parents! The drilling for natural gas in Arkansas has positive and negative aspects other than earthquakes.
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Great point about the drinking water. Is anyone--as in a governmental agency--keeping an eye on this? I wonder if they test the water quality to see if it drilling impacts. Does anyone know?
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ReplyDeleteThis paragraph is thought-provoking. Have the scientists considered the potential impact on our drinking water? If so, why didn't it appear in the Fox New article?
ReplyDeleteThis article made me wonder the same thing about the "toxic wastewater." Is this a valid concern, or another example of media bias?
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be a cool science project to test the drinking the water around some of these disposal wells!
ReplyDeleteI wonder exactly where the disposal wells are, and if their location is available to the public?
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