Protect B.C.’s freshwater from fracking

While the Peace region experienced severe drought conditions, the B.C. government allowed the fracking industry to pollute more freshwater than ever before.

As shown in our latest report ^[1], oil and gas companies took a record 6 billion litres of freshwater for fracking last year – an increase of 16% since 2022, and enough to supply every B.C. household for a week.

The freshwater that fracking operations use and turn into toxic wastewater can’t be used again – it’s gone forever from the water cycle.

That’s why we are calling on the B.C. government to reduce the amount of water that fracking companies take by making some common-sense changes to the way they regulate the oil and gas industry.

Will you send the Premier and key members of the cabinet a letter, calling for urgent action to stop B.C.’s oil and gas companies from taking more than their fair share, especially during periods of severe drought?

^[1] Paper: Fracking with freshwater in a time of severe drought, Stand.earth, Jul 4 2024

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Your letter is more effective when it's been personalized by you. The most impactful letters include details about your life, why you care personally, or how you'll be impacted by this decision.

Premier

David

Eby

B.C. NDP

The Honourable

George

Heyman

BC NDP

Minister

Nathan

Cullen

B.C. NDP

The Honourable

Josie

Osborne

BC NDP

Minister

Bowinn

BC NDP

Dear {contact_data~salutation} {contact_data~lastName},

My name is {user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}, and I am a B.C. resident. I’m writing today to share my concerns about the harmful impact that fracking is having on billions of litres of freshwater in B.C., and to urge you to act now to protect the communities and water sources at risk.

Stand.earth’s new paper ‘Fracking with Freshwater in a Time of Severe Drought,’ clearly outlines how fracking is impacting freshwater sources and explains what your government can do to address that. Please read it here:  https://stand.earth/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Fracking-With-Fresh-Water-In-A-Time-of-Severe-Drought.pdf

I was outraged to learn that oil and gas is the only industry in B.C. that is permitted to extract fresh water, contaminate it, and then dispose of it untreated, removing it permanently from the water cycle.

Scientific studies have raised concerns that the toxic chemicals found in fracking wastewater are leaching into surrounding aquifers, threatening the health of nearby communities. But the government in B.C. doesn’t even require testing of the aquifer in order to monitor these impacts – an absurd oversight.

To address these and other concerns, I ask that you do everything in your power to:

1. Require the treatment and increased reuse of fracking wastewater to reduce the amount of freshwater used in the process;
2. Improve standards for disposal wells and begin baseline and ongoing testing of water systems impacted by oil and gas; 
3. End special treatment for oil and gas by returning the power to issue water license and permits for the industry to the Water Stewardship Branch; and 
4. Charge fracking companies a price for water high enough to encourage the conservation of freshwater.

There’s no reason not to act now: all of these recommendations draw on existing technology and regulations already being used in other jurisdictions.

I look forward to hearing more about your stance on fracking and its impact on communities and freshwater in B.C.

Thank you for your time,
{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}
{user_data~Zip or Postal Code}

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