Water World: Impacts of fracking on water supplies overplayed - CIWEM

Just days after Prime Minister David Cameron offered local authorities a tax break for approving fracking projects in their area, a study has been released addressing the impact of shale gas extraction on water supplies.

As part of the Prime Minister’s pledge, councils would receive 100% of the business rates collected from drilling schemes (double the usual 50%).

The Government said that shale gas has the potential to generate billions for the economy, support around 74,000 jobs and can “guarantee energy supplies”.

Environmental campaigners Greenpeace inevitably criticized the move, claiming that the scheme is a “naked attempt by the Government to bribe hard councils into accepting fracking in their area”.

Meanwhile, an extensive study published today by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) has assessed the likely viability, scale and timing of shale gas exploitation in the UK. 

The study found that “compared to other fossil fuels, the overall water use intensity of shale gas is low" and "claims by some opponents that the industry represents a threat to the security of public water supplies are alarmist”.

It was in December 2013 when water industry body Water UK and the UK Onshore Operators Group (UKOOG) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate throughout the shale gas exploration and extraction process.  MORE