Tainted drinking water found near gas wells(Duke Univ Study)

Source: CNN

A new study from Duke University found potentially toxic levels of methane in drinking water near natural gas wells -- levels so high they create the risk of explosion.

The study, released Monday, said about half of the 68 drinking water wells tested in Pennsylvania and New York located within a half a mile from natural gas wells had high levels of methane -- the prime ingredient in natural gas fuel.

"We found concentration levels where you have to worry about explosions," said Robert Jackson, an environmental sciences professor at Duke and one of the study's authors.

The gas, which is usually located thousands of feet below the water table, appears to be entering the water wells either through cracks in the bedrock or, more likely, the casing in natural gas wells, said Jackson. Casings are steel and concrete barriers natural gas companies use to line a well where it passes through the water table.

Read more: http://money.cnn.com/2011/05/09/news/economy/natural_gas_fracking_duke/index.htm?hpt=T2

extremely important to watch!

I've seen some in media and conservatives dismiss Gasland as liberal propaganda. The more sources showing it is not the better.

I worry about the eventual ramifications of fracking on my own well even though there is no Marcellus shale in my end of Luzerne County.

http://www.wnep.com/news/countybycounty/wnep-brad-susquehanna-river-gas-bubbles,0,2590877.story

Well water problems have become a sticking point for those who argue over the safety of natural gas drilling. But Friday we talked to people in Bradford County who say they've never seen anything like this.

Investigators from the Department of Environmental Protection were in Bradford County, trying to find answers to the bubbles rising out of the ground along the banks of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River near Wyalusing. Neighbors are concerned it may be caused by methane gas coming from nearby natural gas drilling.

"We don't know the ramifications of this. All we know is that gas coming out of the river is explosive," said Don Palmer, who lives along the river in Sugar Run.

D.E.P. would only say that gas samples were being taken from both the river as well as nearby gas drilling sites to try and see if the samples match up. A man who described himself to Newswatch 16 as an initial responder from Chesapeake Energy was also there alongside the D.E.P.

Wow.

We might be hillbillies but we gots the web. :D

It take 25 mins for me to get to the closest place that has ski lifts.

Water is never "poisoned" in these sorts of stories.

It is only ever "tainted", as if we were talking more about homeopathy than pollution.

Between a recession and a depression. A recession happens to someone else. A depression happens to you. Or some such line of $#%! The 'reporters' don't live down on the same level as the mass of people. At one time they did, and they cared. Now they're willing to say anything to keep a head above the peasants.

I mean, really. The only thing they'd get by lying is lots and lots of money. And we all know what a burden that can be.

It's not just the money. There's the hard-earned pleasure of watching the poor suffer and die while you guzzle your expensive bottled water. I mean, money is alright, but it's no substitute for gloating.

Now, sadly, I also believe some in power do take great pleasure in keeping the masses down, the more painful and suffering incurred, the better. These are the same little fuckers who tortured frogs with firecrackers as children, went on to join the college Republicans, get an MBA and inflict their twisted beliefs on others.

I used to know thoughtful, caring conservatives. Now I know only a few, and they're getting tired of it as well.