The couple says that when they complained to the gas company, the company said they conducted a study and found there was nothing wrong with the water that could be affected by the gas and oil drilling going on in their area.
The video is part of a longer in-progress documentary. More videos and blog posts at WaterUnderAttack.com
]]>Although distressing, this is nothing new. When I was attending Indiana University of Pennsylvania back in the 70's the water there would burn also.
Like in Mexico ~ we did not drink the water!
]]>After 6 hours about 1/2 the tank was bled into the trailer when the oven tried to light the burners. You can guess the results, but I'll give them anyway.
The resulting blast was felt/heard over 30 miles away, debris was scattered over a 6 block radius and nothing of the structure was left standing no taller than a fire hydrant.
It was -20F at the time so the tank chilled and it didn't have the pressure to put more volume into the trailer.
]]>In that they detailed one fellow that has to burn gas off that is in the water table his well is sunk in or the leaking gas will cause a major accident in his home.
What is needed here is a revision of the residents well to include an galvanized gas separation tank.
Here is an article outlining how to deal with gaseous water supplies.
Also, don't let the drillers do the testing. Get a reputable firm to come out to do the assessments and get the gov't involved from the start, like the DOE, DOA, and the EPA.
]]>I agree the drilling company should be responsible for this and making the effort to seal the channels up before it gets any worse, like a house blowing up.
]]>Thanks for publishing a news story months after it initially broke (March-09).
Tip jar FAIL!
Your journalistic quality is continuing to degrade. Maybe, moving to NYC from NOLA has caused a few of the people at the Consumerist to start sleeping more and drinking less... All in good fun, but seriously: please quit reporting articles that are ancient.
]]>@StanTheManDean: Why don't you go ahead and prove that this is a special-effects video?
]]>The idea that the police "rioted" either means you don't know what rioting is or you are badly misinformed.
]]>I'm thinkin' now they'll get double billed, by the water company and the gas company.
]]>@michaelthegreat: I don't know that I'd be comfortable with combustible water in a pressurized tank, being constantly heated. Imagine also if he's got an electric water heater and the tank bursts, and causes a spark.
]]>Objectivity is always important.
]]>@Difdi: I read a version of this on the website for the darwin awards, except that it didn't involve a construction error, it was something about dumping something flammable into an outhouse.
]]>This was a common problem in New Jersey, but not from natural gas drilling.
]]>I'm sure the lower hot water bill is canceled out by having to replace the melted faucets...
]]>What are you crying about?
]]>Like Frankenstein says, Fire Bad!!!
]]>Please watch the videos at WaterUnderAttack.com, and take it seriously, it makes me sick seeing all these comments that are just posts seeking to squeeze a laugh out of readers.
]]>@Con Seannery: No No NO Con Seannery....Obama is not "taxing" your water... he's just spreading what you have around a bit. Don't be so selfish.
]]>@Fresh-Fest-1986: Absolutely AWESOME! I laughed so hard my dogs started barking at me.
]]>So that's a freaking time bomb waiting to happen.
]]>Prove it.
I seen a unicorn.
Also saw a purple dragon.
The purple dragon and unicorn were in a movie. Special effects, computer graphics and camera tricks are so nice.
So, PROVE IT. Prove that the natural gas company has contaminated your water. A special effects video ain't going to do it.
]]>@silentluciditi: I work for a company that (among other things) makes frac technology, and it is good technology, but I think that anyone using the technology without making damn sure they aren't causing problems like this deserves to be publicly and loudly spanked.
]]>I thought the sign was the best part - Do Not Drink This Water.
]]>Apparently, now we can.
]]>Everyone needs to watch [vimeo.com]
This is just sad and scary!
]]>@magus_melchior: Nice reference. I am surprised the homeowner still has both of his (and his mustache for that matter).
]]>I'm sure the company's not going to admit to anything, even if someone's house burns down as a result of gas in the water.
]]>$2.00 via PayPal for that video.
]]>@DoktorGoku: That is no simple moustache but rather a force of nature that needs its own channel to monitor it 24 hours a day.
]]>That's probably what they should do, since the gas problem is in their homes I would start my own natural gas company, after all, if all I had to do was seperate the water from the gas, and sell the gas, I would be in business!
If they rebuke I could say "Well you tested my water and told me it was fine! If you are correct then my "water" shouldn't be selling then should it?"
You could break down the whole arguement right back on them and they would have no way to fight back, and you would profit!
@artimas1: You would be the first human acetlyne (sp?) torch!
"I need to heat this pipe up, bend over and fart honey!"
Sorry, that was the first thing I thought. :P
]]>Until the gas company sues you for stealing their resources.
]]>@DeadWriter: They might be better off to contact the fire department as they have the connections to the gas and water utilities as well as a direct line to the town or city leadership. One small spark under the right conditions could potentially cause an underground explosion in the well that could destroy a large portion of the town.
When I have had a natural gas leak in my house, I contacted the local fire departmnent because they have the combustible gas detectors, and they also have hoses and lots of water in case there is an explosion. They also come in a matter of minutes, while the gas utility can take an hour or more to respond.
]]>But this could have occured nbaturally. Not to mention it could also occur by digging a well.
]]>@The Cheat: Actually what is more concerning is this guy's well is essentially a bomb waiting to explode. If there is a spark from the well pump or the cabeling going to the well pump then there will likely be an underground explosion that will likely destroy a good portion of the neighborhood.
]]>@yantelope: I live on the Barnett Shale too. No, we're not seeing flammable tap water, but we are seeing earthquakes south of Fort Worth, which may be connected to the heavy drilling going on there (despite what PR flacks from the gas companies say).
If the negative consequences outweigh the positive for a community, they need to take a critical look at what's going on. Not saying they're right, not saying the drilling company's right, but some critical thinking is not a bad thing here.
]]>Step 1: buy some tanks and hoses
Step 2: turn your faucet on into lower tanks, connected by hose to the other tanks.
Step 3: seal and sell a bunch of natural gas.
Step 4: use proceed to purchase bottled water.
Step 5: agree with water company - nothing to see here!
It's not the gas company. If you smelled the water, it doesn't have that stinky smell of gas from methyl-mercaptan because this is just methane right outta the ground.
The drilling techniques are fracturing the rock allow gas to turn their well water supply fizzy with explosive gas.
]]>Bravo on both accounts!
]]>That's a residential well. The drillers are using fracture drilling, which as its name implies, fractures the rock with explosions to release the gas. In doing so, the gas mixes with the underground water and you get methane mixed with your drinking water.
]]>The greater concern is the drilling fluid getting into the water and contaminating it.
]]>Fire Water out of the tap?
It's a giant hit at AA meetings.
or
Does this mean women can cook with the faucet now?
It was hard for me to decide.
]]>Or if not, these folks should capture the gas at the line in to the house and sell it back to the gas company at a profit. Win-win!
]]>Gee, no more gas stations! Just fill up with the garden hose!!
]]>A little gasoline for breakfast never hurt anyone. Bunch of whiner babies.
]]>@artimas1:
No, but farting would certainly be more fun!
]]>Heh. Now you can boil water at the tap!
]]>