The practice of fracking, or “hydraulic fracturing,” wherein a high-pressure jet of water is used to drill into rock layers, may cause serious issues for nearby water wells; there are many indications that individuals who drink from well water near fracking outfits should be wary of doing so. In Ohio, it was recently reported that two residents who live nearby a fracking operation can literally set their water on fire due to the contamination the work has caused.
As of late, there has been much concern with how fracking can affect the quality of drinking water. Recently, the EPA released a study that suggests a positive connection between fracking operations and degrading quality of nearby water sources. The report found that aquifers in the vicinity of fracking outfits had traces of methane, along with other hydrocarbons, within their water supplies.
Fracking has been around since the middle of the 20th century, but the 21st century has seen a rise in the procedure; it is now estimated that well over half of all new gas and oil wells utilize fracking in order to extract natural resources from the earth. Because fracking is so prevalent today, it is important that individuals and industry officials be aware of the potential dangers it may pose to peoples’ health. There have been many reports in recent years of the health risks of fracking—even just being near a gas fracking site may pose risks—so health officials should be diligent about inspecting and reporting on the potential dangers of this procedure. Fracking also presents the risk of explosions when drilling for natural gas, so it is not just water and general health problems that the practice may engender.
The law firm of Shapiro, Lewis, Appleton & Favaloro writes Legal Examiner blogs for Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Northeast North Carolina as a pro bono service to inform consumers and officials of urgent health risks, dangerous products and matters of injury law.
Rick Shapiro has practiced personal injury law for over 30 years in Virginia, North Carolina, and throughout the Southeastern United States. He is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (ABA Accredited) and has litigated injury cases throughout the eastern United States, including wrongful death, trucking, faulty products, railroad, and medical negligence claims. During his three-decade career, Shapiro has won client appeals before the VA Supreme Court, VA Court of Appeals, NC Supreme Court, SC Supreme Court, WV Supreme Court, TN Supreme Court, and three times before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, underscoring Shapiro’s trial achievements. In addition, he and his law firm have won settlements/verdicts in excess of $100 million. His success in and out of the courtroom is a big reason why he was named 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” in railroad law in U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers publication (Norfolk, VA area), and he has been named a “Best Lawyer” and “Super Lawyer” by those peer-reviewed organizations for multiple years. Rick was also named a “Leader in the Law, Class of 2022” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (total of 33 statewide honorees consisting of lawyers and judges across Virginia). And in September 2023, Rick was selected as a recipient of the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) 2023 President’s Award. Although many nominations were submitted from across the country, Rick was just one of eight attorneys chosen by the prestigious National Board which certifies civil trial attorneys across the U.S. Rick was also recently named to Virginia Lawyers Weekly 2024 Virginia’s Go To Lawyers Medical Malpractice. The attorneys awarded this honor are nominated by their colleagues and chosen by a panel from the publication.
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