Are you aware of the danger to the USA's largest aquifers? The risk of Oil in th

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   Ericdierkerposted 7 years ago

   Are you aware of the danger to the USA's largest aquifers? The risk of Oil in the country's water?
   
   I think without the key words no one will know what I speak of. I believe it extends from nearly the Canadian border to nearly Mexico. It provides water for about 35 percent of the "vegetable" food you eat.

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   Copper Manposted 7 years ago

   Yes. It has taken millions of years for these aquifers to fill with water. In some places huge agribusiness operations have nearly drained them dry. Now oil contamination threatens those you speak of. Once drained dry or made unfit for drinking or irrigation, those reservoirs will have become useless to us and to our progeny.
   
   Unfortunatly, even if left untampered, the aquifers will not refill inside of another million years. We can look forward to a very long dry spell.

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      Faith Reaperposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Wow, interesting question, Eric, and even more interesting answer. Thanks Lane. I did not know all of this!

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      Ericdierkerposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      This is so cool. I cheated. There are actually three huge problems. At first I thought this one did not make sense. I figured they take the water out and put it back in by using it on the ground. But that is not how it works. Well said friend.

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   tsmogposted 7 years ago

   Thank you Eric for providing enlightening research for learning. I have heard some of the arguments about fracking, but never really understood how it was done or its implications before. Now, I do!
   
   I discovered first how those aquifers are becoming depleted to begin with by agriculture. Yes, they are the source for drinking water as well as other uses. There levels simply are lowering faster than replenished. Some regions are even pumping collected rain water back into them. In other words the wells are running dry or need to become deeper.
   
   Then I read the threat of fracking for oil and gasses regard our aquifers. I pondered our quest to become independent of outside our country for energy - oil. Easily I see its complexity. But, what are the costs today and tomorrow? Our water?
   
   I will continue following this while pondering  . . . Thanks again . . .

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      Ericdierkerposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Tim it seems to me that fracking is clearly a problem. And as I understand it the biggest threat is disposal of the waste water it produces. They think it would be a good idea to drill down through the aquifer and dump it below the aquifer. One more

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      tsmogposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Me too. Off my head I can see this issue having the same impact as the controversy of Climate Change. I am still going to read more in the future . . .

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      Ericdierkerposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Tim I looked into this at my son's prodding. He pointed me too a protest. When I read up on it, I saw the press really only talked about the protesters and police and didn't address the issue. So I dug deeper.

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      tsmogposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      hmmmmm . . . political forces??? That is what I meant kinda' with controversy. I am sure it is more controversial regionally specific to locals too. I am looking into here in Cali seeing none in Diego, but discovered is offshore of Cali too.

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   tamarawilhiteposted 7 years ago

   The Ogalala aquifer's greatest threat is being drained dry by agriculture. Fracking wells are well sealed against leaks. Waste water injection wells where they inject sewage thousands of feet deep have actually greater threats to public health through leaking into aquifers and caused quakes in Texas and Oklahoma.

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      Ericdierkerposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      I always like your confidence. I kind of think you may be at least partially right on the fracking. I see conflicting reports. It is worthy to note that one massive quake could have more impact that all of man.

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      tamarawilhiteposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      I think part of the solution is wastewater reclaimation, as San Antonio is doing, so we have far less wastewater and much more water available for human use without having to draw down limited "fossil" water.

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   faith-hope-loveposted 7 years ago

   I was aware of the threat to Aquifers all over the world. To begin the corporate world has to be reigned in and to do that WE all need to Have Governments that will work in unison (they Need the Will and the Cajones) to do the Job. Nome of our International Corporations have shown that they have the integrity or moral Value to consider the consequences of their actions on future generations or even the present one. They can only see THE MONEY in whatever currency. This means they have no moral Value only Money (Greed) Value. Fracking is always dangerous no matter how careful they claim to be. This has also triggered earthquakes. Also remember once the rocks are Fractured there is nothing to stop Pollution.

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      Ericdierkerposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Well said friend. The only possible thing that constricts me from a full on frontal assault is jobs and costs of goods. These need of ours on fossils has got to be reined in.

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