Essay on Natural Gas Fracking Risks - 1519 Words

Natural gas is said to be one of the most popular forms of energy today. In the past, often left undeveloped and wasted, it was once considered â€Å"unusable† and â€Å"worthless†, compared to oil. In order to try to break our country’s dependence on foreign oil supplies, we have begun to dip into our own natural gas supply. Natural gas is found underground, and is produced when trapped gas is released above ground. Hydraulic fracturing or fracking is a process that extracts natural gas from the ground. As harmless as the billion dollar producing oil companies would want us to believe, environmental groups, scientists, and average citizens have raised concerns about the negative impact of hydraulic fracking on the environment and†¦show more content†¦As more and more natural gas locations are sprouting up so close to home, it makes sense to explore the risks proven to be associated with fracking. Groundwater polluting of communities near natural gas drilling sites, has been linked to fracking. â€Å"At least 15 water-wells in Rosebud, Alberta, have gone bad since EnCana Corporation fracked into their aquifer in search of shale gas in 2004† (Nelson 25). By fracking into the aquifer, the chemicals used in the process undoubtedly contaminated the drinking water of the area. Nelson also reports of Rosebud resident, Jessica Ernst and her family’s experience with fracking. Ms. Ernst stated that Encana gas told her family that they would never fracture near her family’s aquifer. By 2005, Ms. Ernst says that her water started going bad, she was receiving horrible burns and rashes from showering, and her dogs refused to drink the water so that is when she began to pay attention (Nelson 25). It is a horrible thought that a person could get burnt taking a shower in their own home or not be able to provide their pets safe water to drink. â€Å" In 2006, Ernst decided to go public, showing reporters how she could set fire to her tap water, and speaking out about the industry† (Nelson 25). â€Å"One gas company recently bought out the town of Dimock, Pennsylvania, for $4.1 million because fracking made the water completely undrinkable† (Nelson 26). It makes one wonder how large drillingShow MoreRelatedFracking : A Controversial Controversy1486 Words   |  6 PagesFracking is a highly controversial practice that utilizes the injection of water, chemicals and abrasives to extract relatively inaccessible pockets of natural resources. Although fracking has the potential to benefit the domestic economy, the practice of hydraulic fracturing, if left unregulated and mismanaged poses significant risks to the environment, the ecosystem and safety. 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