http://www.treehugger.com/fossil-fuels/fracking-wastewater-disposal-contaminants-over-niagara-falls.html?campaign=th_rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+treehuggersite+%28Treehugger%29
This article is about how oil drilling in Canada could, in the future, send contaminants over Niagara Falls and from there into the Great Lakes and the Ohio River. The water from the treatment plant would be released upstream from the falls, and critics say that there will not be a way to know if the plant could filter out the radiation or other chemicals found in the wastewater. The Niagara river is already on a list of at- risk waterways, and the new contaminants caused by fracking, or drilling, could cause serious troubles. A way that this could be prevented may be possible through the legal system, as Niagara Falls lays across the USA/ Canada border, and the contaminated water could disobey international pollution laws. Many people are against fracking, because it is very bad for the environment, and also dangerous. Scientists believe that the plant will not be able to control the quality of the wastewater.
I was surprised that the people in charge of the drilling are actually being so inconsiderate as to send polluted water directly over the border into another country. Fracking in general seems like a very bad idea becuase of all of the risks involved, and releasing wastewater into a major water system makes it even worse. My family was hoping to vacation to Niagara Falls sometime in the near future, but I would be uneasy about going if there was radioactive polution in the area. The amount of water affected by the Niagara River is immense, and I hope the people in charge will reconsider before going through with this dangerous idea.
Questions:
1. Why do you think people want to continue drilling if it is so dangerous?
2. Do you think Canada should be allowed to release toxins over the border that Niagara Falls crosses?
3. Why isn't this type of story covered more in the news?
4. What effect will this have on us?
Opinion/Reflection: I'm very surprised that people would actually knowingly send this kind of pollution into the United States. It's both unfair and immoral. I just don't understand why no one is stepping in or this topic is getting more coverage. The waterways that are being polluted are very major and many people are affected by them, so isn't it everyone's right to know?
ReplyDeleteI'm just scared that I may be affected by this. What happens if some of the pollution gets into Pennsylvania's water? Since there might be a chance that we can not remove the contaminates, I am worried!
Question #1: I think people keep drilling because it's their job and they probably aren't affected by the pollutants. It's not like it's going into their water supply, only ours.
I am very worried about how this could affect the United States in the future. Oil driiling in general is a very dangorous idea. I already saw what it did to the gulf and now it could be pollution much of north americas surface water. I find myself feeling angry that people are doing this while knowingly releasing toxins into the water. It is also a shame that nobody seems the be stepping up to stop the drilling. It is very bothersome to know that this could potentially affect us.
ReplyDelete4. What effect will this have on us?
Even though the ohio river isnt our direct source of water here it is the direct source of water for a major chunk of the country including western pennslyvania. Even though us in eastern Pa may get out of the polluted water problem we and the rest of the rest of the US will be faced with another problem, supplying clean drinking water of our own to the millions of people in the ohio river valley who would need it.
I think that they should stop the drilling. It may be usefull to obtain those resources, but it is horrible for the environment and has more negative effects than positive. If they can at least figure out some ways to drill without polluting the water
ReplyDeleteTo answer question 1, people continue to drill because they want the resources. They dont care if it hurts the environment. Just as long as they are making money. I think they should makelaws to stop these things.
Ok, this is the third time I am attempting to post this, as my previous two have both disappeared.
ReplyDeleteFresh water is one of the worlds most important natural resources, and the great lakes are one of the largest and most important sources of fresh water we have. The fact that they are being polluted just to make a quick buck is not ok. We are going to run out of oil pretty soon, and once we do where will we be? We are going to Need to start putting some serious though into alternative energy solutions now, so that we do not have an energy crisis later.
In response to question #1, the answer s money. Money,money, money. Thats all some people care about. And apparently they think that polluting two countries and one of the worlds most precious resources is worth it to make money. We really need to stand up and say that tracking and drilling like this is not ok. Thats what it really comes down to. They will keep doing it as long as they can, unless someone tells them to stop.