In an effort to build on its previous work on hydraulic fracturing, WRF sponsored a workshop at the end of April to support water utility efforts to improve their relationship with oil and gas companies. This workshop covered key topic areas such as monitoring, emergency response, and operations to help water utilities and oil and gas companies improve response to emergency situations, understand how and what to monitor, share water system management strategies at hydraulic fracturing operations, and share the latest research results.  Water utilities are increasingly interested in oil and gas production activities that are occurring in their service areas and watersheds. Often times these operations are regulated under different agencies than water utilities, which can create coordination challenges. Many utilities recognize that these operations are already occurring or will be shortly in their area. These utilities are not focused on debating the safety of these activities, but are concerned about the potential impacts these operations will have on their utility. Several key topics have been identified by utilities including monitoring, emergency response, and operations. Many utilities face challenges in coordinating with these oil and gas companies and would like to develop better information exchange and partnerships. This workshop helped accomplish this while also helping to identify future research projects that need to be conducted.

Hydraulic fracturing: Developing water and oil-and-gas sector partnerships

248th National Meeting (2014)

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