Dollars flow, Water Dries Up

OP / ED

In the Southwest, oil production keeps growing despite a worsening water crisis. As rainfall drops and underground water sources shrink, oil companies pump millions of gallons of fresh water into the ground for fracking.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a single well can use up to 10 million gallons of water. That water often comes from the same aquifers that nearby farmers and communities rely on. In the last 10 years, groundwater levels have dropped by as much as 50 feet. The industry’s priority is becoming a bigger issue — both environmentally and socially.