How would you like to be able to set your water on fire? I’ll admit, the idea turned me off at first, but think of the possibilities. Layers of excitement will be added to your life as your chances of dying in a fiery explosion skyrocket! It could double as the new party trick you’ve been waiting for and a way to save money on lighter fluid. Also, you could save those pesky few minutes that it often takes to boil water. (When it isn’t instantly vaporized by the flame that could shoot out of your faucet instead).

Of course, I am referring to the fast-approaching use of hydraulic fracturing in our state. The method, popularly known as fracking, has been used for the recovery of natural gas in North America for years now. The process involves the injection of a mixture of water, sand and chemicals at an extremely high pressure, thousands of feet underground. This stream of fluid is used to open up cracks and fissures in rock, allowing natural gas to flow into a horizontally drilled well.

Because of the pollution that fracking causes, many landowners in Pennsylvania, where some of the largest natural gas reserves in the world are, have experienced illness, sick livestock, and yes, flammable water. These cases have been attributed to the contamination of aquifers by fracking operations. Yet, fracking is exempt from the Clean Water Act. 

But it should be acknowledged that to some, fracking is seen as a golden opportunity. Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and other states with fracking have seen an influx of money and jobs. And in the past decade, the price of natural gas has dropped significantly because of the operational efficiency of hydraulic fracturing. But some of the largest drivers in the pro-fracking push are political. Representatives who are seeking re-election can promise employment to their constituents by allowing fracking companies to access reserves, and natural gas is upheld as the key to an energy-secure future for America.

I should point out that in North Carolina, the debate has been settled: It’s probably going to happen. Back in 2012, both the Senate and the House approved the “Clean Energy and Economic Security Act,” which would legalize fracking in our state. The bill flopped for a brief moment when Gov. Bev Perdue vetoed the legislation, but her maneuver was overridden the very next day by legislators. Since then, natural gas companies have made moves to buy up land, and some property owners have cashed in. Even so, many North Carolinians aren’t yet ready to accept fracking into their backyards. You could count David Schlobohm as one of these people.

Mr. Schlobohm, a U.S. Department of Energy qualified specialist, gave a talk on campus recently on the ramifications of fracking in our state. He brought up a study that was conducted by the Department of Energy and Natural Resources (D.E.N.R.), evaluating the feasibility and safety of fracturing operations in North Carolina.

The typical fracking well is ten thousand feet underground, and water is located at around 600 feet below ground. But here, water is one thousand feet underground, and the study concluded that companies would likely be drilling at just four thousand feet. This means that the hundreds of chemicals used in fracking fluids are that much closer to entering the water cycle. And while most states do not require full disclosure of these ingredients, they often include mercury, lead, formaldehyde, benzyl chloride and other known carcinogens. Mr. Schlobohm strongly warned that the risk of contamination is high, as less than half of injected fracking fluids are actually recoverable.

Sadly, words can only go so far to stop fracking, and there aren’t enough groups like Earth First! unwaveringly committed to fighting fracking. Water’s supposed to beat fire, but in North Carolina, like in other states, we seem to be defying nature.