A new study has found evidence of a common fracking chemical in the drinking water wells of three homes in Pennsylvania, The New York Times reports. The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, details how the compound most likely contaminated ground water due to poor drilling well integrity in nearby gas wells. Although the wells had casings of steel and cement that extended about 300 meters below the surface, they lacked that same level of protection farther down. Since 2009, the natural gas industry has improved well construction, some argue, including through the increased use of these protective, intermediate casings. This study, the researchers say, highlights the continued importance of proper well construction.
