Some aquifers in Pennsylvania, near the New York border, might be at risk of contamination from chemicals used in hydrofracking because of natural cracks in the rocks, a Duke University study states.
The presence of salty water from the deep Marcellus shale in groundwater above the shale layer indicates that water is "at increased risk for contamination ... particularly by fugitive gases, because of natural hydraulic connections to deeper formations," the study's abstract states.
"This could mean that some drinking water supplies in northeastern Pennsylvania are at increased risk for contamination, particularly from fugitive gases that leak from shale gas well casings," Avner Vengosh, professor of geochemistry and water quality at Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment and one of the report's eight authors, told phys.org.
New York is still deciding whether to allow hydrofracking. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today he expects the final environmental report to be released this summer.
More hydrofracking coverage:
» New Study: Fluids from Marcellus Shale likely seeping into PA drinking water [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
» Rising Shale Water Complicates Fracking Debate [National Public Radio]
» New research shows no Marcellus Shale pollution [Myrtle Beach Online]
» Earth Firsters Block Fracking Operations in Pennsylvania Forest [Earth Island Journal]
» Ohio Fracking Wastewater Test Reveals Toxic Mess [Care2.com]
» N.C. Lawmaker 'fracks' up no vote of drilling [New York Daily News]
» New York Fracking Moratorium Causes Drilling Company To Shut Off Gas In Avon, NY [The Huffington Post]
» Fracking and the future in northeast Pennsylvania [The News Eagle]