Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2015.
http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-fracking-20150211-story.html#page=1
There are now high amounts of benzene found in fracking waste waters in California. It is said that for years, California allowed companies to inject fracking flowback water into aquifers that had drinking water. California’s oil field waste water injection program does not comply with federal safe drinking water act. There are about 9 drinking water wells that have shown benzene in them. 98% of waste water samples taken from fracked oil wells exceeded federal water quality standards. The EPA states that another 279 disposal wells were drilled into aquifers. They contained water that was suitable that would be drinkable if treated. However, there were 48 wells that contained water that was not drinkable. The EPA is now directing $500000 to help California establish a baseline for water quality.
I think that the state as a whole needs to take responsibility for this. They allowed for companies to do this so they should pay the price. The state complains that we are in a drought but yet they allow this go on? Benzene is known to be toxic. It is not good that the benzene may be in our drinking water. Wells should provide drinkable water because that is what California is in great need of. We do not need toxic, polluted water that we cannot drink. I think that it is good that the EPA is helping out. We need to get this issue resolved.
It is very true that we need to regulate the fracking industry as well as our drinking water wells. How could we set regulations for this? There definitely are standards for water quality but how could this have slipped by?
Many regulations need to be given to the fracking industry. I disagree though, with your point that the whole state needs to take responsibility for what has happened in LA. LA is a very small part of the big state of California. What do you suggest we do?
I don’t understand how this could have occurred. Clearly we need to establish rules and regulations regarding fracking, and reconsider the method overall.