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Study: 3,000 Foot Presumption Of Water Well Pollution Liability Needed Around Gas Wells
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The Center for Rural Pennsylvania Friday released the findings of an unbiased and large scale study of water quality in private water wells in rural Pennsylvania before and after the drilling of nearby Marcellus Shale gas wells, according to Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Bradford), Center Chair. One significant finding in the report recommends increasing the zone of presumptive liability and private water well testing from 1,000 to 3,000 feet from Marcellus Shale gas wells due to increased levels of bromide, sediment and metals found by the study.
The Governor's Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission recommended increasing the liability zone to 2,500 feet from public water supply wells.
The study is entitled, "The Impact of Marcellus Gas Drilling on Rural Drinking Water Supplies," was a Center-sponsored research project conducted by Dr. Elizabeth W. Boyer, Bryan R. Swistock, James Clark, Mark Madden, and Dana E. Rizzo of Pennsylvania State University.
Update: The Center for Rural PA on Monday took down the report for unspecified revisions. They hope to have it up by the end of this week. A copy of the original report is available online. A copy of the final report is now available.
One research recommendation is for additional setback requirements for natural gas drilling companies between the location of gas wells and nearby private water wells for presumed liability and certified mail notification.
"The research found that bromide levels in some water wells increased after drilling and/or fracking. These increases may suggest more subtle impacts to groundwater and the need for more research. Bromide increases appeared to be mostly related to the drilling process. A small number of water wells also appeared to be affected by disturbances due to drilling as evidenced by sediment and/or metals increases that were noticeable to the water supply owner and confirmed by water testing results.
"Increased bromide concentrations in water wells along with sporadic sediment and metals increases were observed within 3,000 feet of Marcellus gas well sites in this study. These results suggest that a 3,000 foot distance between the location of gas wells and nearby private water wells is a more reasonable distance for both presumed responsibility and certified mail notification related to Marcellus gas well drilling than the 1,000 feet that is currently required."
"Earlier this year I introduced Senate Bill 601, legislation that would increase the distance that a company would be presumed liable for any contamination of a water supply within 12 months after completion or alteration of the well," Sen. Yaw said.
"My legislation would also further increase the horizontal distance from a Marcellus well and an existing building or water supply. I believe these increases will provide important safeguards for landowners within the impacted areas and I am pleased that this study concluded the same," Sen. Yaw added.
Senate Bill 601 requires a 2,500 foot testing buffer between Marcellus gas wells and water wells.
Sen. Yaw, who serves as the Center's Chairman of the Board said: "As the natural gas industry moves forward in Pennsylvania and the General Assembly considers legislation related to the development of this industry, it is very important for our elected officials to have the information that is based on fact and not fear or fiction. That is why this study was so important."
The study evaluated water sampled from 233 water wells in proximity to Marcellus gas wells. Among these were both treatment sites (water wells sampled before and after gas well drilling nearby) and control sites (water wells sampled though no well drilling occurred nearby).
Phase 1 of the research focused on 48 private water wells located within about 2,500 feet of a nearby well pad, and Phase 2 focused on an additional 185 private water wells located within about 5,000 feet of a well pad.
According to the study results, approximately 40 percent of the water wells tested had failed at least one Safe Drinking Water Act water quality standard, most frequently for coliform bacteria, turbidity and manganese, before gas well drilling occurred. This result mirrors past studies of private water wells in Pennsylvania.
The study’s pre-drilling results for dissolved methane also provided new information that documented its occurrence in about 20 percent of water wells, although levels were generally far below any advisory levels.
Despite an abundance of water testing, many private water well owners had difficulty identifying pre-existing water quality problems in their water supply. The lack of awareness of pre-drilling water quality problems suggests that water well owners would benefit from unbiased and consistent educational programs that explain and answer questions related to complex water test reports.
In this study, statistical analyses of post-drilling versus pre-drilling water chemistry did not suggest major influences from gas well drilling or hydrofracturing (fracking) on nearby water wells, when considering changes in potential pollutants that are most prominent in drilling waste fluids.
When comparing dissolved methane concentrations in the 48 water wells that were sampled both before and after drilling (from Phase 1), the research found no statistically significant increases in methane levels after drilling and no significant correlation to distance from drilling. However, the researchers suggest that more intensive research on the occurrence and sources of methane in water wells is needed
The report was funded by a grant from the Center, which is a legislative agency of the General Assembly.
A copy of the report of the original report is available online. A copy of the final report is now available.
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10/24/2011 |
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