Fracking not to blame for water contamination

New Scientist : Although drinking-water wells near several hydraulic fracturing sites in Pennsylvania and Texas are increasingly becoming contaminated with hydrocarbons, the source is most likely leaky pipelines and boreholes, rather than the fracking process itself. Because fracking involves fracturing shale rock by pumping chemicals into the ground, it was feared that those chemicals, which can be toxic, or the natural gas that gets released might make its way into local water supplies. However, after studying the contaminants, Thomas Darrah of the Ohio State University and colleagues say they appear to be noble gases that have leaked as they were being piped to the surface. If so, improving the integrity of the equipment and better environmental monitoring could take care of the problem.