Fracking—the process by which petroleum and natural gas are released from the earth's rock layer using high-pressure injections of water and chemicals, which creates "fractures" in the rock— was put into commercial use in 1949, but in 2004 the EPA declared fracking "posed little or no threat" to drinking water, which effectively skyrocketed the technology.
However, as Barry Estabrook's sobering May 2011 piece for Gilt Taste confirms, fracking poses dire consequences to the future of both sustainable agriculture and the livelihoods of thousands of small farmers around the country.
The problem with fracking is that this "witch's brew of carcinogens, acutely poisonous heavy metals, and radioactive elements" can and does leak through to surface water, and into nearby streams and rivers. Last year 28 cattle on a farm in Pennsylvania were quarantined after drinking wastewater leaked from a nearby well, which was later confirmed to have high concentrations of chlorine, barium, magnesium, potassium, and radioactive strontium. (16 cows died.)
"The dangers of fracking to the food supply are not something that's been investigated very much," said Emily Wurgh of Food and Water Watch, an environmental group based in Washington, D.C. "We have been trying to get members of Congress to request studies into effects of fracking on agriculture, but we haven't gotten much traction."
New York passed a moratorium on gas drilling in 2010, but if it were to be lifted it could be disastrous for thousands of farms. Ken Jaffe, who owns a cattle farm in the Catskills, has a number of ponds and wells across his property for his animals. But given the geography of his land, "any chemical contamination seeping from the rock would go directly into Jaffe's water supply, poisoning his cattle." Plant life is also affected: according to Jaffe, "ozone is more lethal to crops than all other airborne pollutants combined, and of all crops, few are more susceptible to it than clover, a nutrient-rich feed that is critical to his method of sustainable cattle raising."
Read More: What Will Fracking Do To Your Food Supply? by Barry Estabrook, at Gilt Taste
Related: Does Your Tap Water Ignite?
(Image: Emily Ho)
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Anyone who is interested in more information on this topic should search for the documentary titled "Burning Water" by Bunbury Films. It is about a small town called Rosebud in Alberta. It is obviously a Canadian perspective, but it is eye-opening none the less.
Thanks for this article! This is just getting started in my rural area.
I STRONGLY recommend that people try to gather information on both sides of this issue before jumping to an emotion driven conclusion....for example, it turns out that if you drill your well through a coal seam, you end up with flammable methane in your water - regardless of fracking activity. Fracking fluid is composed primarily of water, soy and surfactants - the same stuff that is in your shampoo, lotion, laundry and dish soap. I encourage everyone to fight for their beliefs - but PLEASE fairly inform yourself first.
Thank you ELLETHEQUEEN. Please visit frackfocus.org for information about the chemicals and concentrations in fracking liquid. I'd like to point out that there has never been evidence directly identifying a CAUSAL relationship between fracking and well water contamination. What we read about are simply correlations between areas with well water contamination and fracking activity. However, may I point out that those areas in PA are also areas in which the earliest drilling and mining activities occurred over a century ago before there were any regulations or technologies to maintain safety and prevent contamination.
Like ELLETHEQUEEN, I think everyone has a right to their opinion, but condemning one of this nation's best options for economic, domestic, and clean energy before you have all the fact is irresponsible at best.
I'm a bit weirded out that "Ellethequeen" and "DSM.Shen" appear to have the exact same writing style, message, and capitalization habit.
From what I understand there is plenty of evidence to show that fracking chemicals are definitively not "water, soy, and surfactants". But there is no proof precisely because the fracking companies refuse to be transparent and actually tell anyone what their fracking liquids actually are. So why should we trust them when they say it's just like pumping huge amounts of shampoo into the groundwater (not that I would want to drink that either). Before I believe them, I want to see the fracking chemical ingredient list!
visit www.frackfocus.org to see a list of chemicals included in fracking fluid.
I agree with Emmmmma - DSM.Shen and Ellethequeen - look like they are paid to be social media trolls on the issue.
The whole point is that the Fracking Companies aren't required to disclose what they put in the fracturing liquid due to some crazy deregulation during G.W's presidency. I wouldn't believe it an Industry paid for pro site that says it disclose everything because legally they don't have too. And sure fire in the taps is scary - but what is worse is livestock dying from contaminants- and people having to truck in ALL their water when it is declared unsafe.
There is a lot of subsidies, gov incentives and investment schemes going into so-called 'green energies' that prey on our rural communities. And it happens a lot of the exciting local food sources are in those rural communities as well. Important topic - thanks for the read!