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Fracking Chemicals are Ending Up in Drinking Water

woman drinking water

Studies have shown that chemicals used in the fracking process may make their way into nearby water supplies. If drills that use fracking are in or around your area, getting your water supply checked for contaminates is a must to ensure there are no fracking chemicals in your drinking water.

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Most chemicals used in fracking are not detectable to the human eye, and even more difficult to detect merely by smell or taste.

For example, Benzene is clear and has a sweet smell. When present in water, Benzene can be tasted once it reaches .5—4.5 ppm (parts per million). One part per million is equivalent to a single drop in 40 gallons of water.  However, it only takes over .005 ppm of Benzene to be toxic in water, so you may be unaware of its harmful presence if you are relying upon taste or smell alone.

Benzene is found both naturally and as a result of industrial sources, meaning that the average person is exposed to small amounts of the chemical daily. However, when a person is exposed to high amounts of Benzene, it can cause serious health problems.  Drinking from a water supply that is contaminated by Benzene can cause stomach irritation, dizziness, sleepiness, convulsion, rapid heart rate, vomiting, or in extreme cases, coma or death.

Learn more about the harmful effects of Benzene.

Many of the chemicals used in fracking are found naturally, or may be common in your day to day life due to industrialization. However, that does not mean that they can’t be harmful to your body should they be found in large quantities, or in the case of extended exposure. On the other hand, some of the chemicals listed as harmful by environmentalists may not be harmful once diluted or after they have been exposed to air. Read more about studies on fracking here.

Still, you can never be too safe when it comes to checking the contents of your water supply.

Here is a list of some chemicals commonly found in fracking fluid, and how they have the potential to be harmful when found in water:

  • Lead 
  • Mercury
  • Uranium 

Getting your water checked, especially if you live near a fracking site, protects you and your family from potential harm from unsafe, fracking chemicals in your drinking water. There are many ways that contaminates get into your water supply, with fracking being just one of the possibilities.

Clearwater analyzes water, giving you the information you need to fix any water issues you might have, should your water test positive for chemicals or other contaminants.

Click here to Schedule Your Water Analysis Appointment