EPA's Hydraulic Fracturing Research in Brief
Hydraulic Fracturing
Water Cycle
The EPA's study includes research
on hydraulic fracturing of shale
formations to extract natural gas and
oil. The scope of the research is defined
by the hydraulic fracturing water
cycle—five areas where the process
has the potential to impact drinking
water resources. It begins with water
acquisition and ends with treatment
and/or disposal of wastewater.
Number of Projects by Research Activity
The EPA is using a variety of research
activities to answer five primary and
16 secondary research questions, as
outlined in the Agency's Plan to
Study the Potential Impacts of
Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking
Water Resources, www.epa.
gov/hfstudy. EPA researchers are
conducting 21 individual research
projects that fall under five types of
activities: analysis of existing data,
scenario evaluations, laboratory
studies, toxicity assessments and case
studies. Research progress for each
type of research activity is summarized
in the 2012 Progress Report.
Analysis of existing data
Scenario evaluations
Laboratory studies
Toxicity assessment
Retrospective case studies
Prospective case studies
EPA/601/F-12/004
November 2012
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Study of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources
2012 Progress Report
Wastewater Treatment anc
Waste Disposa
Wastewater
Treatment Plant
Wastewater
Drinking
Water Treatment
Plant
Wastewater
Disposal
Well
.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
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Wastewater Treatment and Waste Disposal
What is wastewater treatment and waste disposal?
• The last stage of EPA's hydraulic fracturing water cycle is the ultimate
fate of process wastewater. Hydraulic fracturing wastewater is managed
through several methods including disposal into deep injection wells,
treatment followed by discharge to surface water or treatment followed
by reuse
Why is the EPA looking at wastewater treatment and waste disposal
as part of this study?
• Contaminants present in wastewater may impact public water intakes
that are downstream from publicly owned treatment plants or commercial
treatment systems that discharge treated hydraulic fracturing wastewater
to surface waters
What are the possible impacts of inadequate treatment of hydraulic
fracturing wastewaters on drinking water resources?
Study Questions
What are the common treatment and
disposal methods for hydraulic fracturing
wastewater, and where are these methods
practiced?
How effective are conventional publicly
owned treatment works and commercial
treatment systems in removing organic
and inorganic contaminants of concern in
hydraulic fracturing wastewaters?
What are the potential impacts from
surface water disposal of treated hydraulic
fracturing wastewater on drinking water
treatment facilities?
Research Projects
• Literature Review
• Well File Review
• FracFocus Analysis
• Literature Review
• Wastewater Treatability
Studies
• Literature Review
• Surface Water Modeling
• Source Apportionment
Studies
• Brominated Disinfection
By-Product Precursor Studies
Research Projects
www.epa.gov/hfstudy
Analysis of existing data
• Scenario evaluations
Laboratory studies
Toxicity assessment
• Retrospective case studies
Prospective case studies
Literature Review
Review and summarize literature on:
• Disposal practices associated with hydraulic fracturing wastewater
• Treatability of hydraulic fracturing wastewater
• Potential impacts to drinking water treatment facilities from surface discharge of treated hydraulic
fracturing wastewater
Well files are a record of activities that occurred at production wells that have been provided by the nine
hydraulic fracturing operators. This effort will summarize data from 333 randomly selected well files on
volume and final disposition of hydraulic fracturing wastewater.
FracFocus Database Analysis
Summarize data from FracFocus.org—a voluntary industry database—on water types used for hydraulic
fracturing fluids by volume and geographic location, focusing on recycled water
Surface Water Modeling
Apply computer models to calculate downstream concentrations of selected contaminants at public
water intakes under a variety of scenarios
Source Apportionment Studies
• Collect samples from two wastewater treatment facilities and river networks
• Use computer models to identify hydraulic fracturing wastewater in samples taken from surface
waters with several pollution sources
Wastewater Treatability Studies
Identify fate of selected chemicals found in hydraulic fracturing wastewater in common treatment
processes, including conventional, commercial and recycling
Brominated Disinfection By-Product Precursor Studies
Conduct laboratory experiments to study the potential for treated hydraulic fracturing wastewater to form
brominated disinfection by-products during common drinking water treatment processes
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