- A new study finds that it's not the actual process of fracking that can cause water pollution; the bigger problem is faulty well construction.
- The real concern, according to an analysis published yesterday by the peer-reviewed Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, are leaks in the steel-and-cement casings surrounding the well bore, which let gas escape before it gets to the surface, making water undrinkable and in some cases explosive.
- "Where contamination occurs, it related strictly to well integrity," says a co-author of the study, who adds, "The answer is not to stop drilling. The fix is better executions on the construction of the well and improving well integrity."
- The study is fueling calls for stricter standards for well construction that could increase costs for energy companies.
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