Clean Water Fracking - Research Paper Example

Clean Water Fracking Abstract Water is the common component of the fluid that is injected into the hydraulic fracturing or fracking wells. However, less consideration has been given to the contents of this water which include elements that are harmful and contaminates water making it unfit for use. These chemicals include methane, hydrochloric acid, and benzene as well as sand. Clean Water Action has been working in close partnerships with states and organizations at the local level strengthen hydraulic fracturing industry by bringing regulations that are stronger. It is the case since these elements negatively impact on health and environment thus need to have a process that will give clean water. This project study focuses on examining the hydraulic fracturing or fracking process and how it leads to unsafe water. Further, ways are suggested of how to have an advanced fracking process that will produce clean water. The project examines the industry of hydraulic fracturing in Texas and suggests ways to ensure improvement. Key words: Water, Environment, fracking, chemicals, contamination, clean water, and fluid Clean Water Fracking Nearly, of all the hydraulic fracturing fluids, water is the major component making up approximately 95 percent of the volume of the total fluid injected into a well. Clean Water Action has been working in close partnerships with states and organizations at the local level strengthen hydraulic fracturing industry by bringing regulations that are stronger. The process involves a high level of pressure which allows the breaking of the layer of shale apart to facilitate the bringing to the earth surface the pockets of oil and natural gas (Eschner, 2018). The injected water is composed of chemicals such as methane, hydrochloric acid, and benzene as well as sand. Since water is a universal solvent, the supplies of groundwater will, in any case, have the traces of elements, chemicals, and sediments that allow water to run through. However, even with the proved presence of these elements, the entire process which is accompanied by horizontal drilling has poor regulation measures impacting on health and environment thus need to have a process that will give clean water. Out of these large volumes of water that are injected, some returns to the surface instantly upon fracturing as the remaining comes back after months or years. As a result, the return water could overwhelm treatment infrastructure. When examining the new rule of Clean Water Act, the wastewaters from operations entailing hydraulic fracturing need to undergo treatment before they lead to the publicly owned treatment works. This is the case since wastewaters sometimes have unconventional constituents. These constituents are atypical set up for publicly owned treatment works to not to handle industrial wastewaters but rater municipal. Statement of problem Clean water has been found much reliably used for multiple purposes such as drinking, cooking, and bathing. However, sometimes in the 2000s, there were concerns raised from the public that the drinking water gotten from the process of hydraulic fracturing of wells that are near oil and gas production had potential impacts (US Environmental Protection Agency, 2016). The major concern here are the toxic chemicals that are used in fracking despite only having little information about these chemicals as poor regulation of their disposal (Burton, Basu, Ellis, Kapo, Entrekin, & Nadelhoffer, 2014). Instead, there was a state law which was passed in 2011 which required that all chemical frackers use are disclosed. However, the law has loopholes since it contains over 19,000 exemptions. During the drilling, metal and chemical contents are created and dispersed into the land as fertilizer and later find their way into water sources or mix into groundwater. Thus, the entire hydraulic fracturing process is a flaw that makes injected water remain harmful for the use by human beings hence the main problem that this study aims at solving. Scope and Objectives Texas is a state which has more operations involving fracking that are underway as compared to other states. Also, like many other states, Texas has got week regulations towards the hydraulic fracturing industry which has gotten the attention of Clean Water Action to work closely with the state to ensure stronger regulations are implemented towards having an industry that is well regulated (Clean Water Action, 2018). Due to these factors, this research project will focus on the hydraulic industry within Texas. In fact, Texas is where the idea of hydraulic fracturing was pioneered thus forms a suitable area for the project. The study will also focus on how water that is injected from the wells under high pressure during fracking can be treated. This means the cleaning of water will involve the removal of elements contained in water such as chemicals and metals. These elements are the major agents of contaminated water during fracking hence the focus on their removal during the process. Objectives Throughout the duration of the project, the following objectives will ensure that the study remains within the intended purpose: To understand how the companies within the hydraulic industry in Texas can us technology to prevent chemicals and other dangerous elements from contaminating water. To determine how strong regulations within the hydraulic fracturing industry in Texas will help improve the entire process of having cleaning water. To find out the effects of the producing clean water in enhancing the environment Problem Solution The successful completion of this project will greatly impact the audience on how to access to clean water for multiple uses which including drinking without being exposed to potential health issues. The same water will be used for washing various items including clothes and utensils to create a conducive environment for all to exist. Animals will also drink the clean water once obtained to help boost the production towards agriculture (Clean Water Action, 2018). Through fracking of clean water, the users of water will be aware of where the water they use comes from since they would be able to understand the entire process involved. At the same time, this will lower on the cost the users spend on water since water that initially went into wastage is being harnessed for various uses. Methods For this project, the researcher will rely on secondary data which involves data already stored in various sources including electronic, websites, government documents, and records of relevant companies. The government agency sources include the report by the United States Environmental Protection Agency that was produced in 2016. The report examines the impacts the hydraulic fracturing water cycle has on the resources of drinking water in the United States. This report will be essential in understanding some of the crucial elements involved in water contamination. Another source is the Popular Science article by Kat Eschner written in 2018 that expresses the high level of water used in new fracking wells. The article is essential in explaining the need to have clean water from fracking. An article by the Clean Water Action helps the audience understand the measures Texas have been putting in place to have clean water especially through regulations and other means. The article by Burton, Basu, Ellis, Kapo, Entrekin, and Nadelhoffer (2014) expresses some of the effects that surface wastewater from the process of hydraulic fracturing has on the environment. Finally is the article by Rahm (2011) that indicates the need to have hydraulic fracturing regulated if there is a need to have clean water. Schedule Time Activity Week one Finding information about the project and understanding the background undertaking of the similar project Week two Defining the problem statement of the project Week three Looking at the scope and the objectives of the project Week four Defining the specific problem solution that project intends to achieve Week five Examining the methods the project will apply through to accomplish the mission Week six Drafting the report Week seven Final copy of the report of the project Qualifications As the president of the United Nations Water Conference, I am uniquely qualified to oversee this project, having created and implemented the guidelines for The Right of Drinking Water and Sanitation Act. Conclusion Therefore, it is evident that water has been found the commonest fluid in hydraulic fracturing hence the entire process use millions of gallons of water. However, this water as is injected into the wells, it contains various elements that make it not safe for use for various purposes. The wastewater with chemicals and metals has been dangerous to the environment thus causing the dangers to human existence. Despite the availability of laws that ensure disclosure of chemical frackers, these laws have loopholes in the sense that they provide many exemptions. Thus, the only best and the lasting solution is to have a fracking process that will result in producing clean water. The process will be a reprieve to many companies running hydraulic fracturing and who have been looking for a solution to the much wastewater that has been used for years. Enough clean water will be available for domestic use by the Texas people. References Burton, G. A., Basu, N., Ellis, B. R., Kapo, K. E., Entrekin, S., & Nadelhoffer, K. (2014). Hydraulic “fracking”: are surface water impacts an ecological concern?. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 33(8), 1679-1689. Clean Water Action (2018). An Introduction to Fracking in Texas. Retrieved from: https://www.cleanwateraction.org/features/introduction-fracking-texas Eschner, Kat (2018). New fracking wells are using many times more water than their predecessors. The change between 2011 and 2018 is stark, Popular Science. Retrieved from: https://www.popsci.com/fracking-fresh-water Rahm, D. (2011). Regulating hydraulic fracturing in shale gas plays The case of Texas. Energy Policy, 39(5), 2974-2981. US Environmental Protection Agency. (2016). Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas: Impacts from the Hydraulic Fracturing Water Cycle on Drinking Water Resources in the United States. Read More