Is Gas Well Drilling Compatible With Water Resources?
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 11:03am.
Lou Ann Good
Food and Family Features Editor
ROCK SPRINGS, Pa. — No doubt about it — ground water can be affected by earth disturbances, but if gas drilling is done properly, contamination of private wells and springs is not common.
A study in McKean County, which has undergone extensive oil and gas well drilling for several decades, reveals about 3 percent of private wells exceed drinking water standards for total dissolved solids, barium or chloride (the most likely water pollutants from gas well drilling).
Although there have been many complaints, about 95 percent of them show that problems are due to pre-existing problems or other land use activities.
During a workshop conducted Tuesday during Ag Progress Days, Brian Swistock, Penn State, addressed the problems home owners face when gas drilling is nearby. About 80 people attended the workshop, which was one of several held throughout Ag Progress Days. Gas drilling is becoming a boom industry in parts of Pennsylvania, including Northern Tier counties, and landowners are getting a crash course on various aspects of the business, including how to negotiate contracts with drilling companies.
Swistock explained the government regulations to which gas drillers must comply and the environmental protection permit that requires posting bond and notifying anyone within 1,000 feet of drilling and the required water testing by an independent testing lab that is state certified.
Setback distances are required to be at least 200 feet from any water supplies unless a homeowner waives the lease agreement. Swistock cautioned landowners not to sign waivers.
Swistock stressed the need to document water testing. He encouraged homeowners to take advantage of the free water testing that gas companies are required by law to do and to allow access to do testing. “Otherwise the burden of proof shifts to the landowner,” he said.
“If homeowners don’t trust a lab, they can do their own testing, but it will not stand up in court,” he said.
Some signs of water pollution are sediment or mud in the water, effervescence or water foaming, a change in odor or a change in yield.
DEP must investigate a complaint within 10 days and within 45 days determine the person at fault.
Diminished water yields resulting from gas well drilling are rare but possible. If a private well goes dry during drilling, a certified driller must have documented water supply before drilling by a professional water well contractor.
“You don’t own the water underground. The guy with the biggest pump wins,” Swistock warned.
Penn State is licensed to test water and they has published information for people interested in knowing more about gas well drilling and private water supplies. For more information, contact your county extension office or Swistock at (814) 863-0194.
Lou Ann GoodFood and Family Features Editor
ROCK SPRINGS, Pa. — No doubt about it — ground water can be affected by earth disturbances, but if gas drilling is done properly, contamination of private wells and springs is not common.
A study in McKean County, which has undergone extensive oil and gas well drilling for several decades, reveals about 3 percent of private wells exceed drinking water standards for total dissolved solids, barium or chloride (the most likely water pollutants from gas well drilling).
Although there have been many complaints, about 95 percent of them show that problems are due to pre-existing problems or other land use activities.
During a workshop conducted Tuesday during Ag Progress Days, Brian Swistock, Penn State, addressed the problems home owners face when gas drilling is nearby. About 80 people attended the workshop, which was one of several held throughout Ag Progress Days. Gas drilling is becoming a boom industry in parts of Pennsylvania, including Northern Tier counties, and landowners are getting a crash course on various aspects of the business, including how to negotiate contracts with drilling companies.
Swistock explained the government regulations to which gas drillers must comply and the environmental protection permit that requires posting bond and notifying anyone within 1,000 feet of drilling and the required water testing by an independent testing lab that is state certified.
Setback distances are required to be at least 200 feet from any water supplies unless a homeowner waives the lease agreement. Swistock cautioned landowners not to sign waivers.
Swistock stressed the need to document water testing. He encouraged homeowners to take advantage of the free water testing that gas companies are required by law to do and to allow access to do testing. “Otherwise the burden of proof shifts to the landowner,” he said.
“If homeowners don’t trust a lab, they can do their own testing, but it will not stand up in court,” he said.
Some signs of water pollution are sediment or mud in the water, effervescence or water foaming, a change in odor or a change in yield.
DEP must investigate a complaint within 10 days and within 45 days determine the person at fault.
Diminished water yields resulting from gas well drilling are rare but possible. If a private well goes dry during drilling, a certified driller must have documented water supply before drilling by a professional water well contractor.
“You don’t own the water underground. The guy with the biggest pump wins,” Swistock warned.
Penn State is licensed to test water and they has published information for people interested in knowing more about gas well drilling and private water supplies. For more information, contact your county extension office or Swistock at (814) 863-0194.
