Fracking did not pollute water near homes: U.S. (Dimmock, PA)

MSNBC ^ | 15 March 2011 | Reuters

[Erik Latranyi]

WASHINGTON — A first round of tests showed no evidence that water at 11 homes in a small town in Pennsylvania near natural gas drilling operations had been polluted to unhealthy levels, U.S. environmental regulators said on Thursday.

The Environmental Protection Agency said in January it would perform tests at about 60 homes in Dimock where residents have complained since 2008 of cloudy, foul-smelling water after Cabot Oil & Gas Corp began hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, for gas nearby.

Sampling results from the first round of 11 homes "did not show levels of contamination that could present a health concern," a regional EPA spokesman said in an email.

Samples from six of the 11 homes did show concentrations of sodium, methane, chromium or bacteria, but those results were all within safe ranges, the spokesman said.

Arsenic was found in the water at two of the 11 homes, but the agency determined those levels were also safe. The agency will retest the water at those two homes.

[Shanty Shaker]

Many years ago, I asked a DEP representative in PA why the potential of more than 50 gallons of diesel fuel spilled was a HAZMAT indecent but we used tar and oil compounds by the hundreds of gallons per mile to build roads. It was interesting to watch his answer. The simple answer revolves in that oil recedes to tar and tar is an emulsifier so the diesel is an immediate threat. I guess he failed 10th grade Chemistry because he did not have a clue.

I almost created an anti-road movement at the meeting. My real question involved whether a simple application of a bonding agent to a small spill would be a better response than stirring the spill into the ground. It was a moment upon reflection that I recognized where liberals are evil. They know the answers their legions are susceptible to but yet propagate ignorance so they can lead the ignorant.

[Sal]

I was horrified to hear the the wells were full of Dihydrogen Monoxide......that stuff can kill you!

LOL. That's actually true. A decade or so ago IIRC a California radio jock was encouraging people to drink much, much more of the stuff with people calling in to compete for the highest consumption. One woman died from "water intoxication".

[dfwgator]

Facts About Dihydrogen Monoxide

http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Good job, Shaker! And good points!

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Well, hey, as long as it’s a safe level of pollution, all is well.

When you say, “pollution,” you are prejudging the issue, because absolutely pure H₂O doesn’t exist in nature. What, do you think rainwater is pure H₂O? If rainwater fills a pond do the fish in it die for lack of dissolved oxygen?

Long ago a congressman proposed that whenever a company used river water for its processes, it should have to return it to the river with zero contamination. The chemist who was testifying before the committee replied that “There is no zero. I can detect the difference in dissolved silicon dioxide if you pass some water through a yard of glass tubing!”

[hinckley buzzard]

All well water has "pollutants" in it. God made it that way. Normal people understand that if you draw water out of the ground it will have a few molecules of salts, minerals, etc. Most people like it that way. Your taste may differ.

[Sal]

I was thinking 2 hydrogens and 1 oxygen. I had no idea. Thanks for the info. Not LOL anymore.

[Dust in the Wind]

"There's no such thing as pure well water."

Needs repeated. I've been drinking well water most of my life; almost 60 years and am doing fine. Those on "city" water need to request the test results for their local...