Glossary of Terms
What is hydraulic fracturing?
What is hydraulic fracturing?
ANSI American National Standards Institute
CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CI Certified Installer
CIP Clean in Place
CWS Certified Water Specialist
DI Deionization
DBP Disinfection Byproduct
EDI Electrodeionization
FDA US Food and Drug Administration
FRP Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic
GAC Granulated Activated Carbon
GPD Gallons Per Day
GPM Gallons Per Minute
IAMPO International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials
MF Microfiltration
NOM Natural Organic Matter
NGWA National Ground Water Association
NSF National Sanitation Foundation
OEM Original Equipment Manufacturer
ORP Oxidation-reduction Potential
PE Professional Engineer
PLC Programmable Logic Controller
POE Point of Entry
POU Point of Use
PVC Polyvinylchloride
RO Reverse Osmosis
TOC Total Organic Carbon
THM Trihalomethane
TDS Total Dissolved Solids
UF Ultrafiltration
US EPA US Environmental Protection Agency
UV Ultraviolet
VFD Variable Frequency Drive
VOC Volatile Organic Compounds
WQA Water Quality Association
WRF Water Research Foundation
What is hydraulic fracturing?
What is hydraulic fracturing?
What is hydraulic fracturing?
Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is the process of extracting natural gas from shale rock layers deep within the earth. Fracking makes it possible to produce natural gas extraction in shale plays that were once unreachable with conventional technologies. Recent advancements in drilling technology have led to new man-made hydraulic fractures in shale plays that were once not available for exploration. In fact, three dimensional imaging helps scientists determine the precise locations for drilling.
Horizontal drilling ( along with traditional vertical drilling ) allows for the injection of highly pressurized fracking fluids into the shale areas. This creates new channels within the rock from which natural gas is extracted at higher than traditional rates . This drilling process can take up to a month , while the drilling teams delve more than a mile into the Earth"s surface . After which , the well is cased with cement to ensure groundwater protection , and the shale is hydraulically fractured with water and other fluids.
Here are some of the Risks and Concerns of Fracking
• Contamination of groundwater
• Methane pollution and its impact on the climate change
• Air pollution impacts
• Exposure to toxic chemicals
• Blowouts due to gas explosion
• Waste disposal
• Large volume water use in water - deficient regions
• Fracking - induced earthquakes
• Workplace safety
• Infrastructure degradation
The Environmental Protection Agency is fully aware of the harmful effects that hydrofracking causes in contaminating our groundwater with each well producing millions of gallons of toxic fluids such as radioactive material , liquid hydrocarbons ,brine water and heavy metals.