The second part in our series in which Nick Grealy, of No Hot Air, tests the weight of some of the biggest arguments pitted against fracking.

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#2 – Shale Gas production will poison the water

Ever since recent cases of water contamination in fracking sites in the US came to light, fears about the impact on drinking water do not seem unmerited.

But firstly let’s remember that the overwhelming majority of Europeans, 99% in the case of the UK for example, get their drinking water from the public water supply, not the private wells at the centre of any US controversy. Public water supply is constantly monitored and has many redundant sources, very few of which are from ground water aquifers.

Unlike in parts of the USA, flow-back water in Europe will be re-injected in underground wells several thousand meters deep. Fracking fluids cannot flow up 3,000 meters from where gas is extracted anymore than a stream can flow uphill.

Water cannot be disposed of in rivers, stream or anywhere above ground according to current EU wide laws.

The US Ground Water Protection Council, a group of public water regulators in various states has said that they have not seen a single instance of contamination of water by fracking fluid.

This post is part of our series: 12 myths surrounding shale gas production, by Nick Grealy. Download the ebook here >