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EPA's Study of Hydraulic Fracturing and Its Potential Impact on Drinking Water Resources

Case Study Analysis of the Impacts of Water Acquisition for Hydraulic Fracturing on Local Water Availability

Sullivan et al. EPA Report. May 2015. 

Summary 

EPA scientists examined the balance between water supply and demand associated with hydraulic fracturing operations in the Susquehanna River basin in the eastern U.S., and the upper Colorado River basin in the western U.S. Researchers found that neither the Susquehanna River basin in Pennsylvania, nor the upper Colorado River basin are currently experiencing imbalance from water withdrawals directly from hydraulic fracturing operations. These reasons relate to different water user demands, water management practices, geologic conditions, and hydraulic fracturing operations in the two areas. This work was done as Part of EPA's Study of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas on Drinking Water Resources.

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