Injection Wells May Put Drinking Water at Risk

Injection wells used to bury liquid waste deep underground may not be as safe as once thought.

Records from various parts of the U.S. show that injection wells drilled to bury waste deep beneath the earth have repeatedly leaked, causing hazardous chemicals and waste to come to the earth’s surface or even to seep into shallow aquifers that store some of the nation’s drinking water, according to ProPublica.

Contaminants from one well emerged in a Los Angeles dog park, according to reports, and other seepages have been reported in Oklahoma, Louisiana, and South Florida. In 2008, water from the Texas town of Chico was found to contain radium, a radioactive derivative of uranium and a common element of drilling waste, according to ProPublica.

Although many geologists and federal officials contend that risks posed by underground waste dumping pose little risk, several experts say that there is not sufficient scientific evidence to support that claim.

U.S. industries have injected an estimated 30 trillion gallons of toxic waste into wells underground. The number of wells is staggering: there more than 680,000 in the U.S.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by water contaminated from waste drilling, contact Sokolove Law for a free legal consultation. For legal help, call (800) 581-6358.

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