[Special Issue News] Will fracking put too much fizz in your water?

There's little question that hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, techniques have helped spark a boom in shale gas production in the United States. Along with the benefits, however, have come concerns. One big one: the potential to harm water quality. Although fracking typically targets geological formations that are more than a kilometer down—far deeper than most drinking water wells and aquifers—many communities worry that their drinking water could become contaminated with methane or drilling fluids. Fracking opponents point to widespread complaints of contamination near gas wells. But industry advocates claim that there has never been a documented case of fracking harming drinking water. Who's right? A growing corps of researchers is trying to find out.
Author: Erik Stokstad

Source: Science: This Week - June 26, 2014 Category: Science Authors: Erik Stokstad Source Type: research