Marcellus Gas Drilling and Water Resources PA’s abundant water resources - a blessing and a concern Bigger rigsMore wastewaterMore waterMore disturbance Marcellus drilling involves …. Hydrofracturing 83,000 miles of streamsThousands of ponds/lakes80 trillion gallons of groundwater

Water Resources Concerns Photo courtesy – Paul Hart, Hart Resource Technologies, Inc Regulations and enforcement Impact of water withdrawals Protection of drinking water Fracing chemicals Adequate wastewater treatment

Protection of Drinking Water Supplies One million homes, 3.5 million residentsOne million homes, 3.5 million residents Use groundwaterUse groundwater Are drilling regulations protective enough?Are drilling regulations protective enough? Are homeowners aware of water testing documentation needed and leasing stipulations?Are homeowners aware of water testing documentation needed and leasing stipulations? Wells drilled

Water Well Studies % Exceeding Drinking Standards Contaminant Some recent western U.S. studies indicate higher contamination rates

Symptoms of Problems  Erosion/sediment in surface water  Changes in water appearance Sediment during construction or drilling Sediment during construction or drilling Effervescence, spurting faucet Effervescence, spurting faucet Foaming Foaming  Changes in drinking water taste Metallic (iron, manganese) Metallic (iron, manganese) Salty (chloride) Salty (chloride)  Changes in water odor  Changes in well or spring yield

Freshwater Use During Shale Drilling Access + Allocation Typically 3 to 4 million gallons of water per gas well

Freshwater Use for Drilling  Withdrawal must be permitted River basin commissions River basin commissions DEP permit DEP permit Clean Streams Law Clean Streams Law  Water withdrawals Purchase water from communities Purchase water from communities Large rivers and impoundments Large rivers and impoundments Small streams and groundwater Small streams and groundwater Incentives – wastewater use and storage of water during spring Incentives – wastewater use and storage of water during spring  Biggest concerns Withdrawals in western PA with no river basin oversight Withdrawals in western PA with no river basin oversight Illegal withdrawals - enforcement Illegal withdrawals - enforcement

Hydrofracturing Several million gallons of water mixed with sand (proppant) and various additivesSeveral million gallons of water mixed with sand (proppant) and various additives 30-40% return of frac fluids = >100,000 gallons30-40% return of frac fluids = >100,000 gallons

Hydrofracturing Mixtures Source: Arthur et al Hydraulic Fracturing Considerations for Natural Gas Wells of the Marcellus Shale. The Ground Water Protection Council, 2008 Annual Forum, Cincinnati, OH.

 Salt (sodium, chloride, total dissolved solids)  Metals (iron, manganese, barium, arsenic)  Chemical oxygen demand  Surfactants/detergents  Total suspended solids  Oil and grease  Methane gas (migration)  Additives Wastewater Pollutants (drilling, brine, flow-back, production)

 Challenges  Limited existing capacity  Volume of wastes  Highly polluted, variable waste  Treatment methods  Dedicated facilities – salt discharge  Road spreading – limited circumstances  Deep injection wells – limited number + capacity  POTW’s – just diluting waste, stop gap measure  Reuse / recycle – dilute waste for reuse  New regulations will prohibit high TDS discharges in 2011  New treatment plants to remove salts will be needed Wastewater Treatment

Regulations and Enforcement  Sufficient setback distances to water  Sufficient bonds during permitting  Well construction to prevent methane migration  Inspections on freshwater protection string  Zone of presumed responsibility (1,000’ enough?)  Water testing burden on homeowners  Waste fluid collection – pits with liners – leaks?  Proper chemical storage on sites – preventing spills  Tracking of waste fluids – preventing illegal dumping  Staff to investigate complaints (10 days / 45 days)

Educational Resources Gas Drilling and Water Resources PublicationsWeb sites / webinars Portable Classroom DVD Gas drilling and your private water supply Water stipulations for gas leases Treatment options for gas waste fluids Gas well drilling and water resources Presentations

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