Groundwater to be Monitored Near CA Fracking Areas

FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — Water quality near oil and gas well fracking in California will now be monitored, under new requirements approved by the Water Resources Control Board.

Hydraulic fracturing allows for the extraction of gas and oil from rock, by injecting high-pressure mixtures of water, sand, or gravel and chemicals.

However, environmentalists believe the operations increase the risk of pollution, and could cause a catastrophic oil spill.

The board says monitoring those wells will help them identify potential threat and prevent pollution, allowing the water to be used for a variety of purposes.

The data will also be made available to the public.