A recent study published in Environmental Science and Technology found “elevated levels of numerous metals and chemical compounds” from 550 groundwater samples collected from private and public supply water wells in Texas. The wells draw their water from aquifers throughout the 5,000 square miles Barnett shale formation of Texas. While the University of Texas Arlington (UTA) study did not directly attribute the contamination from hydraulic fracturing activities taking place in the area, the authors did conclude, “It is more likely that it (fracturing) has had an effect on water quality.[i]
