SOMETHING IN THE WATER? ANALYZING COMMUNITY AND GEOSCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE OF THE ENERGY-WATER-HEALTH NEXUS IN SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA

Unconventional energy development (UOGD) has sparked significant controversy regarding the potential groundwater contamination and associated public health impacts. One factor exacerbating this controversy is the seeming disconnect between community and geoscientific expert perceptions of the UOGD energy-water-health nexus. We analyze community perceptions of this nexus through a series of six focus groups held in Beaver, Washington and Greene counties of Pennsylvania, a region of high UOGD activity in the Marcellus Shale. We used the focus group data to inform a geoscientific analysis of a large groundwater sample database for the region (>7,000 samples). We find that communities are most concerned about potential radiation contamination and associated health risks, most commonly from UOGD wastewater management. While the groundwater sample database did not include sufficient tests for radioactive species to include in our analysis, we used ratio, correlation and regression analyses to identify areas with elevated concentrations of tracer species—Chloride, Bromide, Strontium—that indicate the presence of brine salts and possible radioactive species above EPA limits. While a small number of areas with elevated tracer species concentration levels were identified in areas within 1 km of dense UOGD development, it is unlikely that radioactive species in these areas exceed EPA limits. We find that wastewater management is the most likely pathway contributing to elevated tracer species concentration levels. These tracer species could be present other potentially hazardous species with documented health impacts, such as thallium, that are not presently a main concern of communities. In summary, community and geoscientific knowledge converges regarding a potential energy-water-health risk channel—UOGD wastewater management—but diverges regarding species and health impacts of concern.