In the summer of 2022, John Stolz received a call for assistance from the Center for Coalfield Justice, an environmental nonprofit in southwestern Pennsylvania. They reported a “frac-out” in New Freeport, a small town in Pennsylvania’s Greene County, where drilling fluids from fracking had surfaced through an abandoned gas well. Residents noticed unusual odors and discoloration in their well water, and pets refused to drink it, raising safety concerns.
Stolz, a Duquesne University professor with over 10 years of experience testing water for fracking pollution, agreed to investigate. His two-year study confirmed residents’ concerns, revealing oil and gas contamination in a broader area than initially thought, as published in a recent study. Of 75 water samples, 71 percent contained methane.
“We found significant contamination,” Stolz stated, noting that approximately half of the tested wells had poor water quality, with two wells showing “explosive levels of methane.” Homeowners were unaware of the severity.
Sarah Martik, executive director at the Center for Coalfield Justice, expressed gratitude for Stolz’s work. “Dr. Stolz has been one of the few providing free water tests in our area,” she said.
As word of mouth spread, the study expanded. “It began on Main Street with the initial report,” Stolz explained. “Presentations of preliminary results led to more residents requesting water tests.”
Guy Hostutler, chairman of Freeport Township’s board of supervisors, reported that at least 22 households rely on water buffaloes due to contamination, while others use jugs supplied by the Center for Coalfield Justice. Some residents have installed filter systems.
In 2024, residents filed a class-action lawsuit against EQT, the alleged source of the frac-out. Martik hopes the study lends credibility to their case, providing validation for those affected.
How to Get Your Water Tested
Penn State offers drinking water testing through its Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory, accredited by Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection. Prices start at $15, with results typically available two to three weeks after submission. Testing includes basic contaminants like E. coli bacteria and pollution from oil and gas drilling.
EQT denies responsibility for the contamination, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection found the water unsafe for consumption but did not link it to oil and gas drilling, according to spokesman Neil Shader.
Stolz believes DEP has not fully utilized available data to identify the contamination source, complicated by an abandoned gas well. “You must consider the broader picture and timeline,” he said. “The frac-out clearly altered conditions.”
DEP is now investigating recent complaints of oil and gas contamination in the area. New Freeport’s situation mirrors that of Dimock, another Pennsylvania town affected by drilling, where residents still lack clean water, as covered by Inside Climate News.
Groundwater contamination is a pressing health issue in Pennsylvania, where more than 25 percent of adults rely on private wells for drinking water, significantly higher than the national average. Yet, private wells serving over 3 million people are rarely tested, per Penn State University’s Drinking Water program.
Stolz emphasized the widespread issue of communities losing water due to drilling, stressing the need for accountability. Daniel Bain, co-author of the study and a University of Pittsburgh professor, noted that companies’ denial of responsibility loses credibility as incidents increase.
Frac-outs, though rare, are more likely in Pennsylvania due to its hundreds of thousands of abandoned wells. DEP has recorded 54 frac-out incidents between 2016 and 2024.
Freeport Township supervisors advise residents near fracking to test their water as a precaution. “If you suspect drilling, get your water tested,” advised Tim Brady, the vice-chairman.
Residents can contact Penn State’s Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory for testing, costing $75. “Pay the money; it’s invaluable when contesting these issues,” Brady added.
Baseline test results help distinguish fracking pollution from other sources. Stolz and Bain’s study uses a “preponderance of evidence” approach to differentiate contamination sources. Their findings show “compelling evidence” of significant changes in local water chemistry following the frac-out.
Bain highlighted regulatory gaps around frac-outs, noting the absence of a “zone of presumption” for them, unlike drilling. Freeport Township declared a disaster emergency last month, warning of risks to health and safety. Local officials are working to address the crisis through investigations, funding for a public water line, and discussions with state and federal authorities.
Hostutler, Freeport Township’s chairman, expressed concern for the community’s future, with some residents moving away due to the high cost of water buffaloes. “We want to preserve what’s left of our close-knit community,” he said.
Original Story at insideclimatenews.org