The Threat from Hydrofracking
Authors:
- Paul V. Rush - New York City DEP
New York City’s water supply provides high-quality drinking water to nearly half the population of New York State – more than 8 million people in New York City and another million people in upstate counties. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is the city agency with primary responsibility for overseeing the operation, maintenance, and management of the water supply infrastructure and the protection of the 1,969-square-mile watershed. The Marcellus Shale, currently a prime target for natural gas drilling, underlies the entire portion of the New York City water supply located west of Hudson, N.Y. This west-of-Hudson area supplies 90% of the city’s drinking water and is of such high quality that the water does not require filtration.
In early 2008, the City first learned of natural gas leases within the watershed and that the State was considering modifying regulations governing natural gas exploration that would facilitate the use of hydrofracking. The issue became quickly polarized, with some groups perceiving this as the most serious threat to the environment in a generation and others viewing it as a much-needed boost for the local economy. The City quickly determined there was a need for a balanced, objective assessment that carefully evaluated realistic impacts on the water supply with a focus on water quality, water quantity, and the water supply infrastructure. Thus, a one-year study was commissioned and conducted through a joint venture of Hazen and Sawyer and Leggett, Brashears & Graham that yielded two reports on this important issue…
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