http://bigcountryhomepage.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=320876

Methane Discovered in Parker County Drinking Water

The EPA ordered a Fort Worth natural gas company Tuesday to supply homeowners near a Parker County drilling site with gas monitors and drinking water after an investigation found high levels of methane in the residents’ tap water.

The Environmental Protection Agency received a homeowner’s complaint in August that expressed concern that their private drinking water well had been contaminated with methane by a Range Resources hydraulic fracturing drilling site.

“The homeowner had previously complained to the Texas Railroad Commission as well as the company, but their concerns were not adequately addressed by the State or the company,” read a news released issued Tuesday afternoon.

EPA officials collected water and gas samples, which were sent to a lab for analysis. They found samples in the water that matched the chemicals from the drilling site, the release said.

Currently there are only two drinking water wells that were contaminated, though nearby residents are asked to notify the EPA if their drinking water begins to change colors or if their water wells seize up.

“Drinking water contaminated with natural gas impurities such as benzene is unhealthy,” the release said.

In addition to a full-scale in-house investigation, Range Resources was ordered to deliver drinking water to the two residences in question; sample soil for gas near the residences; sample all drinking water wells to “determine the extent of aquifer contamination;” give homeowners methane gas monitors; and develop a plan to fix any contaminated aquifers.

“EPA believes that natural gas plays a key role in our nation’s clean energy future, and the process known as hydraulic fracturing is one way of accessing that vital resource,” the release said. “However, we want to make sure natural gas development is safe.”

Wonder what part of Parker county?

south

Saw a news story about this on TV a couple of weeks ago. Looks like a bad casing on a well or two. Flammable water is NOT a good thing!

HBO had a documentary called "Gas Land" on a few months ago, and it outlined all the hazards of hydraulic fracturing. Pretty interesting, but it was a little offbeat. While I don't know a lot about it, it doesn't take an Einstein to figure out that several of those chemicals, many I've NEVER heard of, could contaminate drinking wells and eventually trigger health problems, cancers, etc.

It's amazing how many of those things have gone up in the past few years in and around DFW. I've got some family up there, and they tell me about the small EARTHQUAKES that occur now because of all the drilling. I'm sure a lot of ya'll are familiar with this already.

I honestly dont see how a frac could cause this, since it is about a mile under solid rock from the aquifer. But...If there are other nearby wells with casings that are damaged from corrosion due to bacteria or CO2, and it causes a hole in the casing close to the aquifer, then it seems to me that it could happen. Hence the importance of a good corrosion inhibitor and batch treating with VARIOUS biocides. But CO2 (carbonic acid) corrosion is a big problem in the Barnett shale. I have taken water samples that fizz like a soda.

There have been similar stories in Wise County in the last few years. One of the stories was about a family in Paradise.

I'm about 5 miles from Paradise and have one spring that has run constantly for generations. This fall, despite tanks going dry because of the drought, another spring has come to the surface.

Really makes me wonder what is being pumped into the ground as it seems really strange a spring would come to the surface during such a dry period. Also makes me wonder what it's doing to the animals on my property. Maybe that's why my antler production is so poor this year? That thought has crossed my mind.