State natural gas and oil regulatory programs place a great emphasis on protecting groundwater. Current well construction requirements call for the installation of multiple layers of protective steel casing surrounded by cement. These elements are specifically designed and installed to protect freshwater aquifers and other underground resources.
The measures required by state regulatory agencies in exploration and production activities have been very effective in protecting drinking water aquifers from contamination attributable to hydraulic fracturing.
Furthermore, the
Ground Water Protection Council (GWPC) issued a report in April 2009 stating that the potential for hydraulic fracturing deep shale natural gas and oil wells to impact groundwater is extremely remote, as low as one in 200 million.
See what government regulators have to say about hydraulic fracturing and groundwater.