Summer is coming to an end, ushering in droughts across the US. Many states, such as California, have implemented fines for wasted water, in an attempt to mitigate the growing problem.
The technology to help curb water shortage, however, may lie in a very unexpected industry.
Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking” is a proven and safe way to extract additional oil and gas from both existing well fields and from the shale oil fields that, until the technology improved, were very difficult and expensive to properly utilize.
Fracking has drawn criticism for its use of water in extraction; yet, it may hold the solution of water conservation.
According to industry figures, California’s 830 fracking wells used 323 acre-feet of water in 2013. While this amount of water may seem excessive, comparatively, it is a minimal portion of the state’s overall usage.
California uses about 85 million acre-feet of water each year, with 45 percent meeting environmental mandates and habitat requirements in the Delta region and other areas. The remaining 40 percent is allocated for agriculture, 10 percent for residential, and the rest apportioned for industrial usage.
Comparatively, the amount of water used in fracking constitutes about .0004 of a percent of the water used in the state; the same amount used by 500 households or single golf course over a year.
In recent years, the practice of re-using water for fracking is quickly expanding across the country due to expensive water costs and environmental conservation objectives.
By using recycled water, $70,000 to $300,000 is saved per well, an astonishing economic benefit. This Innovative technology alone, however, will not drive the continued success of the fracking sites; but with increased investment building more sustainable practices, fracking wells will continue to be both prolific and profitable.
The practice of fracking can provide plentiful access to natural gas, a bridge fuel, frequently touted by the Obama administration. Coupled with environmental ingenuity, this industry will continue to deliver well-paying jobs across the country, stabilize our economy, and ensure energy independence for years to come.
Brigham A. McCown is an attorney and public policy expert. With nearly three decades of combined public service, Mr. McCown formerly headed a federal agency and served as a key federal regulator over the energy and transportation industries. He is also a retired Naval Aviator and an avid baseball fan who calls it as he sees it, right down the middle. To learn more, visit him on National Journal, Huffington Post, and Fuel Fix or follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
