The Stream, July 19: Study Concludes Pennsylvania Fracking Did Not Contaminate Drinking Water

United States
The Department of Energy now says that contrary to a claim made earlier this year, chemicals from hydraulic fracturing in Pennsylvania did not contaminate drinking water aquifers, Bloomberg News reported. The conclusion comes from a National Energy Technology Laboratory study conducted in Pittsburg, the first ever where a drilling company has allowed government officials to continuously monitor its fracking fluid.

Citizens in Menard, Texas, are divided over their rapidly disappearing San Saba river, The New York Times reported. While people on the lower river accuse those upstream of wasteful water management, both sides still feel reluctant to appoint a “watermaster”, someone who would would monitor and determine water use rights, due to high costs and tangled legislation.

Mining
The Diaguita indigenes in Chile will probably appeal for an environmental impact assessment study on a local gold mine project next week, Reuters reported. Construction of the mine, which could potentially damage pristine glaciers, pollute water supply, and harm agricultural activity in the region, is suspended by a court ruling until infrastructure to prevent water pollution is built.

Urban Infrastructure
The state government in Karnataka, India, considers having proof of a water source as a prerequisite for apartment construction, The Times of India reported. “More than 90% of apartments in the city depend on borewells or water tankers…[and] a large number of flats are lying empty as people are afraid to buy them due to water scarcity,” said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.