Regardless of anyone's views on climate change or environmental issues, it's no secret that growing populations and hotter weather can stress clean water supplies. Any additional use of water that could be drinkable has to be managed well, whether that use is for a new golf course or for a fracking operation. Luckily, efforts have been underway for some time to find ways to conserve clean water while still having enough water to complete the fracking process. Reusing frac water has emerged as one of the best routes to this end.
The Need to Conserve Clean Water
Clean water actually isn't that easy to come by worldwide. The United States is fairly lucky to have so many good, clean water sources such as underground aquifers, rainfall, and lakes or rivers. The country has a healthy reservoir system in many areas as well. But that doesn't change the fact that a growing metro area, or a state whose population is rapidly growing, can encounter supply issues. Droughts, hot summers, and expanded personal and commercial use all drain water supplies that aren't adequately replenished.
What Fracking Can Do to Water
Fracking requires clean water, and many companies initially turned to fresh water for all their needs. This, of course, had effects like reducing what was available for nearby residents to use. There was also the problem of frac water, or wastewater from the fracking process, and how to store it or dispose of it. That led to a solution to both problems.
How the Reuse of Frac Water Helps Conserve Clean Water
Through aeration, the process of adding oxygen to the water, frac water can be reclaimed and reused in fracking. Aeration reduces volatile compounds that are so common in frac water and reduces harmful bacteria. By essentially cleaning the frac water, companies can have a ready supply of clean-enough water to reuse in another fracking process. This saves most fresh water for use in communities.
Obviously, some of the frac water will be lost through evaporation and through just being so contaminated that aeration can do only so much. But the majority of the stored wastewater can get a new life, while truly fresh water can go into cities and towns for use there.
If your company has a lot of frac water lagoons, look into aeration now. You could end up with a lot of extra water that keeps your operation going easily.