Ignitable Drinking Water in Candor, NY, Above Marcellus Shale

[slumberingpaladin]

I worked on a farm outside of Candor in 1969.

One day, while traveling to the town we passed a house that the farm owner, William Bollier commented on.

He said they had a contaminated well, and the children had suffered birth defects and continuing health problems. The farm owner further said "it's a shame".

Nothing was ever done for those people with the contaminated well during my time there.

[Lailer10]

It seems as though some do not understand the process of fracking. It involves pumping millions of gallons of high pressure water and a mixture of many toxic chemicals (many of which are endocrine-disrupters which can harm you, and if you are pregnant, your baby) thousands of feet below the earth. Once it has fractured the shale, the digging continues, but horizontally. This creates many, many cracks in thr shale rock. The cracks make it so the natural gas comes up to the surface, along with the

[kanadu]

I feel bad for this man. Looks just like the stories told in Gasland. Water is sacred. Fracking should be banned.

[fullervisiondotnet]

There's just one problem with the anti-fracking line, here:

This is in New York, where no fracking has yet happened. They haven't even had a chance to touch the Marcellus shale yet. So, whatever the cause of this, it's not that.

[lacertuslecti]

I don't know who the idiots leaving messages about how "properly dug wells won't do this" but they obviously don't know jacksh** about geology. How can you dig deeper than a coal seam, a-swipe? Decaying organic matter causes this?? Yes, if it's 50 million years old, it does! The fracking can occur as deep as 2 miles underground! Most home wells are from 15 to 50 feet deep.

[lacertuslecti]

It's not just methane when this results from "fracking". The "Proppants" used are not harmless and are left underground to migrate into aquifers and wells.

[STORMLORD70]

Well why don't you see how deep your well is because who ever drilled your well drilled it into a coal seam. Your well is in a coal vein and cool has methane in it. Your well is not deep enough.

[kenjackson1977]

Say NO to Fracking ....have them drink 8 cups of water a day of this stuff if they make it after 2 months of drinking let alone 2-3 weeks then its good...these scum bags dont even live around here come drilling for the ol mighty dollar and leave it in shambles and dirty Chemicals in our water ....it means nothing to them.

[mexicansnowglobe]

@kenjackson1977 send me some of that water and il drink it my self. Il prove to all you haters that its just fine and that shale gas should be a go.

[kenjackson1977]

@mexicansnowglobe go to Pa. they have a lot of shit water now. Take a test of that...if you drink it 6 months ill follow lmao!

[Kratz009]

O my god!!! they were drilling on my grandfathers land (in spencer new york) i wonder if that was the conection?!?!?

[LEYANNA28]

What so funny about this man's situation? Some of you that left comments on here are complete assholes. When they are drilling in your drinking water we will see how funny it is then

[AdmiralGST]

@SavetheKKRR2011 When the wells are improperly dug, methane leaks into the drinking water and thus this can happen. When the wells are dug properly, this isn't a problem.

[wwelles14]

His lights are on. Somethings has to power that.

[chasehav2014]

there has not been one confirmable case of this happening this is just leftist liberal propaganda and gases can form naturally in water wells from decaying organic matter this is just a scare tactic to advance a liberal agenda

[unclefracker]

This walter hang is a quack. First, what does it matter that this guy is a vietnam vet. he's trying to illicit sympathy. wonder if he ever tried to light his tapwater before Hang came knocking on his door. Absolutely no evidence that it was caused by drilling. Methane in water is common; unrelated to drilling.

[deathdeathdeath4516]

Well if there's a fire don't use a bucket of water

[2813kasim]

Theres a lot of people who have this problem, but it's from Fracking.

[geeoffchin]

@2813kasim Correct, but just to add, fracking is just another way of extracting the natural gas. What fracking does is they shove alotta water down underneath the ground to push the gas up, all that water being pumped down (with other chemicals too) likely gets into the water supply and thus, you have the shitty situation this guys in.

[ZangetsuBullet]

Hey, look at the bright side. You can wash your vegetables AND grill them at the same time!

[ericsenn1]

@ZangetsuBullet you watched the colbert report thing didnt you? lol

[ZangetsuBullet]

@ericsenn1 Damn! You caught me, lol.

[swinepaste]

Well, I guess this makes setting up a bunsen burner a little easier.

[HarveyWysong]

I am sympathetic with the plight of this man, but I'm not inclined to believe that he has identified the true cause of his problem. This doesn't quite pass my sniff test. One principle problem is that he offers no evidence that the gas is natural gas. There is a strong possibility -- actually a likelihood -- that the gas is methane. And methane is given off by everything from rotting leaves to coal. Wells with methane vent pipes were built in PA more than 50 years ago. 

[EATABAGOFHELL]

Hey, look on the bright side: The old fantastical pipe dream of "a car that runs on tap water"? Turns out it might just be achievable after all!

(haha jk there is no bright side, we are all fucked and everything is just going to keep getting worse forever)

[gradyhue]

....

[Daddyo930]

In 2005, the gas and oil companies were exempted from the clean air and water acts. This is the result of being stupid fat, lazy and ignorant. We have killed ourselves with our greed.

[TheBooban]

omg, clean your dishes first you slob!

[RailBuffRob]

This makes me wonder where the local fire department gets their water, good luck shooting this at a fire.

[hythloth70]

It's called "The Rape of America" and its all being sold to China.

[DieserBenuterIstCool]

FUCK THE GOUVERNMENT.

FUCK CAPITALISM.

FUCK EVIL SCUMBAG POLITICIANS.

[MillyVanillification]

fracking makes the gas containing layer permeable. The chemicals used for drilling and the gas enters the ground-water. When fracking is on its peak you will see a lot of burning houses. we had a similar phenomenon, but it came from the gases of a landfill which has been covered with a few meters of soil. The methane gas seeped into the cellars of buildings and electric sparks ignited it. Also people who were jogging in the area fell to the ground unconscious.

[s46d45m17]

It's all about the money just like politics, insurance companies, and everything else, the wealthy do not care who they hurt for profit.

[8Libertine8]

In 2005, the Bush/ Cheney Energy Bill exempted natural gas drilling from the Safe Drinking Water Act

[Joysquigglesparkles]

FUCK.

[songwright2]

Hey cowboyPA: Lets get rid of the EPA so no one will monitor the radio-active isotopes being released into the pristine streams of Pennsylvania by the growing natural gas industry in the state. It's better to poison our land, than have that wasteful department of the government, they just get in the way of industry anyway. The gas industry will send their own in to test the water, what are you worried about? They're not gonna harm anyone. Right!

[juslookin3]

Bunch of damned communist granola crunchers and tree huggers. Just drink your water between the natural gas bubbles and shut up! Natural gas is natural. Learn to live with it.

[VillarbaDye]

@juslookin3 Go drink some salt water too...that's natural as well.

[LadyEmeryDraven]

I love how the people who seem to think they are in power and control seem just not to care with what they do might harm someone

[BAZHE]

wow

[cdltpx]

Let me guess if he tried to drill a natural gas well they would say he doesn't have the mineral rights?

[69cowboypa]

@renado1a There have been no wells fracked in NY. Not one! As fas as "massive" environmental impacts, Name one! There are over 400 "fracked" wells in PA. None of them have caused any environmental concerns. Do people experience methane released into drinking water, yes, but thats been going on long before any drilling. Road construction will release methane into water. It is short lived. Step away from your computer and join the rest of us in "reality"!

[69cowboypa]

All those wells in ny are vertical wells. None of them were fracked. As far as water with metane in it, that has been going on long before any wells were drilled in NY. How do I know, I live in "Gas Land". I am a water quality expert. I have been testing water and know of several wells that contain high levels of metane gas, long before any drilling occoured here.

[mariokartislife]

I would like to comment by saying that yes this is a tragic incident but that most wells which are drilled into black shale for natural gas do not have this sort of repercussions. Drilling for natural gas is a safe and effective way of creating jobs, and making the United States a self sufficient nation once again. I say that it is safe if the proper geologic research is done on an area prior to drilling which was not done in this case and gives drilling for natural gas a bad name.

[ninjasp2444]

this is aweosme i wana try this at my house :P prolly wont work

[pablo17851]

check out Gasland

[tribunalfunk]

See this is why I just drink vodka.

[billy240z]

try it in the gas tank

[AmericaVoted4Change]

know that this is happening all across the country...

Bush gave the gas drilling industry exemption from the Clean Water Act...

this is a result of 'fracturing' in which a secret mix of chemicals are injected into the ground in order to extract the natural gas.

[69cowboypa]

Radiation detectors too! are you serious? Why dont you find something constructive to do with your time. Seems youve got plenty of that.

[69cowboypa]

His water was allways ignightable. Only because of Nat gas did he recently discover that. How close are these gas wells to him? You fail to mention that! Not close enough to be the cause of his dilema. Ask any water well driller, how many wells do they drill that have metane related in them. Problem is, you cant smell it, so you dont even know its there!

[BeAnEarthNut]

@69cowboypa i am surprised you sleep at night, O that's right your a good liar you must sleep fine! lol Hey people this guy thinks fire departments don't carry gas detectors, well mine carries gas detectors, CO2 detectors And radiation detectors! this guy makes me laugh with his Lies!

[IDCFFSGTFO]

Shining example of a working class guy getting SHIT ON by multi-billionaires.

Boycott natural gas. It's the ONLY way. There is zero chance that our bought-out congress (both parties) will EVER stop the gravy train of criminal negligence that is the energy industry.

Or we could just rise up and overthrow the corporate oligarchs who own our entire country now. Wouldn't that be nice.

[Ddevil1911]

Natural gas companies are absolute scum. This bullshit needs to stop asap. I feel for this guy, quite a shame what he has to go through just to get clean water.

[GreenDrakeNinja]

That's in NY too, imagine what has and will happen to those in PA where there are basically no restrictions on drilling! It might not be in your area so maybe your indifferent. However, why is it ok to let an industry that makes BILLIONS ignore their responsibility to where they're drawing this resource? Hey GOP "drill here, drill now!" let us know how that tap water tastes!

[Graeden420]

Its from what is known in the industry as Fracking. Look it up.

[saintmj57]

daaaaaammmmm ! this poor dude !! i feel for him ! how in the HELL is this happening ? we have the right to life an this is no way to live. all these scientific ppl can tell you a bunch of mumbo- jumbo about how this might happen anywhere but this aint CORRECT ! water from the sky DONT light on fire...and we ALL as americans should be sticking together to end this kind of thing !!!!!!!

[jordanasi808]

Do you still drink that water????

[CleanWaterActionPA]

This is unfortunately not a new phenomenon... natural gas drilling has caused similar problems in Colorado, Arizona, and Pennsylvania just to name a few. Imagine what these poor people are being exposed to! Clean Water Action is working to fight against the gas companies by pushing for more strict regulations, and enlisting the help of citizens and activists state-wide to do so.

[alculus07]

Clean sustainable energies: Geothermal, solar, wind, under water current, wave, etc... This planet is abundant with energy... So then why are we still relying on fossil fuels??? The establishment is doing a damn good job at maintaining the status-quo... Here's to standing still and not progressing for the sake of profit!

[ScottieDM]

Getting rid of natural gas should be simple. We don't have gas, but we run our water into a cistern (if we had gas we'd need to vent the cistern to the open atmosphere).

The tough part would be other hydrocarbons associated with natural gas. That he gets an odor in the shower suggests these other contaminants. Activated carbon should take care of them, but at the expense of buying activated carbon all the time. Probably could burn it in your stove though.

[dickcheneyfrackU]

Concerned citizens watch "GAS LAND" its on (HBO on demand).

GAS LAND describes issues concerning Fracking & how Fing UP our GOVT. is.

Shame on America and it's people who represent "we the people"!

[waterflaws]

That's fracking amazing!

[BonesRodriguez]

How is this ok? How can we let this happen? He's a vietnam vet and his WATER LIGHTS ON FIRE.

[residentzombie]

@BonesRodriguez The property owner needs to sue the gas company that was fracking and contaminated his water supply. The property owner has every right to since this property has been damaged.

[69cowboypa]

@residentzombie There are no frack wells in NY! None! goes to show how much you know!

[residentzombie]

@69cowboypa And who are you? You provide me proof that no fracking is going on in NY moron.

[69cowboypa]

@residentzombie I own about 300 acres in NY. I work for an independant lab that does soil and water testing for every gas well that gets fracked. There has been a moritorium on fracking in NY for over 2 years now. Obviously you dont live near here, otherwise you would know that. Ask anyone who knows, or check papers in the NY area. There has been no "Fracking" in NY, at all! Belive me, I would love to lease my land for 10,000 and acre! I would be retired at 40 yrs old. A freaking millionare!

[residentzombie]

@69cowboypa OK well this video could have been filmed more than 2 years ago. Are you accusing that the home owner is lying? It is obvious that some sort of gas if contaminating his water supply.

[69cowboypa]

@residentzombie There have been no Fracked wells in NY. None! I own land that has gas wells on it. None of them have been "FRACKED". I also have done water quality testing in homes that have had very high levels of methane in them. None of the methane was related to gas drilling. It is naturally occuring here, due to the amount of gas that is in the ground. If you were raised here, or knew others who were, you would understand that. Media loves to take a side, and run with it.

[madeintheusaclan]

@69cowboypa *buzzzzzz* wrong answer care to take another crack at it. This time with the right answer

[69cowboypa]

@madeintheusaclan The "mix" is not a secret. All have disclosed their frack mix. All of them! You are behind the times. Get your damn facts straight!

[madeintheusaclan]

@69cowboypa there was so much fracking going on in new york David Paterson had to impend a ban on it effective july 1st '10 that lasts 7 months to determine how many wells are doing this and the impact it is having on the environment around it. You obviously know nothing about what your talking about. so you lease a little bit of land for a check to sell your soul. Dont come on here and make up false facts when the info is a matter of public record and well documented on the internet. NOOB FAIL

[69cowboypa]

@madeintheusaclan first of all, the "hold" on fracking is going on its 3rd year in NY. If you lived here, you would know this. I live in Chemung county, NY. Right in the heart of gas development. I also work in the environmental field, which does water sampling, with respect to all fracked wells. I think that makes me more "informed" than you. Getting your info from the internet. There has been NO fracked wells in NY. NONE! None of what I said is lies, unlike you.

[69cowboypa]

@madeintheusaclan The ban on fracking is going on its third year! Not just since july 10. That was an extension. There have been NO fracked wells in NY. NONE! You have nerve calling me a liar. I live here, in Chemung county NY. I also work for an environmental company that is testing soil and water around "ALL" fracked wells. Think that makes me more informed than you! Do you live here? Do you work in the industry? Bet not! Once again. NO FRACKED WELLS IN NY!

[MeinBart]

@BonesRodriguez

even if he was an illegal immigrant his water shouldn't ignite :)

[madeintheusaclan]

@MeinBart thats the spirit

[NepaLibertarians]

Two miles from my house in Pennsylvania people are able to light their water of fire as well. But no gas wells in the area. Lighting water on fire is a natural phenomena, It happens in many places where there are no gas wells as well. Its not just caused by gas wells in the area. 

[saintmj57]

@NepaLibertarians hahahahahaha you must mean when water wells tap into natural gas.....water has only 2 ingredients, yes they both are flamable when separated but thats not water

[nyccrespo]

wow i feel bad for this guy !!!! some 1 needs 2 help him !!!!

[OpenComments]

@nyccrespo

Someone also needs to help your friend, cre8factory. Having been in Scientology for 18 years, he is conditioned to filter all of the valid criticisms against Scientology. Separation of families, harassment of critics, using mafia-like intimidation to silence those who speak out against it ...

The Church of Scientology is more than you think. Please visit xenu(.)net, or just enter 'Scientology' in google news. You will be horrified by the compelling stories.

[theeastwatch]

hope you've switched to bottled water.

-TEW

[isawanangel2]

god this is so sick...gotta remember never to go there..like camp lejune..unreal

[zhibyful]

it's a very weird coincidence then that all of a sudden he can light his water on fire. my heart goes out to this poor guy.

[MrJosephSchmoe]

You can ask any water well driller in the area and they will tell you this is not uncommon and has been encountered long before anyone spoke of the marcellus formation as an economical source for nat. gas. There is naturally occuring methane in the ground and there is equipment available for this poor guy and people with similar problems, to vent the gas out of his water tank to help him avoid some sort of explosion.

[Zampan0]

The govt. won't help him because they can't make a nickel on it.  It would seem all this dude needs is a lawyer.

[scottsliststube]

I'd also like to comment that opponents of gas drilling in NYS are unlikely to be successful in achieving a total moratorium. Natural gas *is* less polluting than coal, even when drilling impacts are factored in. A better strategy would be to focus on getting a SGEIS that adequately safeguards our environment and mandates compliance with best management practices and requires accountability. The DEC must also drastically improve enforcement of existing laws.

[richfiles]

This world's major voices state that humans are causing global warming, while the global warming naysayers deny that we could possibly have that level of effect on the planet.

[richfiles]

Still, it's the same people, governments agencies, organizarions that would back global warming will turn around and tell you that poking holes in a geologically cracked region (faults) will not have any effect on the flow of gas, that changing the presures and levels of gas underground won't do a thing, and it was "obviously" a natural event, outside of human control... Bull. Nothing but money infatuated hypocrites spewing bull.

[richfiles]

Yes, natural gas can seep on it own, naturally, but the incidence of drilling in the region, is too coincidental. Activity nearby, is very likely to have caused the imbalance underground that allowed this to occur. You know, they have to pump water underground to equalize the pressure as they remove gas. I can't look at this as coincidence.

[Firecat7409]

FIREWATER!!!!!!!! He should light up his faucet while maniacally cackling "I AM THE GOD OF HELL FIRE HA HA HA HA!"

Seriously though someone should help this guy, preferably before his house goes kaboom with him in it...

[ISamuelII]

Certainly a disgusting disregard for the well being and the general welfare of the people. Nobody has ever come out because they know the toxic extent, and there is no way to clean it up.

Time to lay a civic pipeline to service potable water to the community, or move away to where it is not contaminated.

[demongov]

wow

[Taintize]

I live up on honeypot and my water smells like SHIIIITTTT

[toxicstargeting]

Greetings,

With due respect, there are approximately 15,000 active natural gas and oil wells in New York State. You can see their reported locations at the Toxics Targeting web site.

Two wells were drilled immediately west of the person's home with the ignitable drinking water. That area also has reported geologic faults.

Regards,

Walter Hang

Toxics Targeting

[PennsylvaniaLand]

Im not saying this isnt due because of natural gas drilling. Not saying it is though. Im saying its definately not from drilling the Marcellus and it has to be from shallow wells (see my timing comment below). There is a 10 times greater chance to get natural gas in your water supply from shallow wells (what used to be drilled) than the Marcellus which is 6000' underground. Yet, you are opposed to "Marcellus" drilling which isnt related to this at all. Yet it's in youre title.

[scottsliststube]

PennsylvaniaLand, the Marcellus shale formation is not consistently found at 6000' underground. In Pennsylvania, it is typically located between 5000 and 9000 feet below the surface. In New York however, it is found at shallower depths (1500-5000 feet except in the extreme southeast), one of the reasons that gas companies are less eager to drill here (lower pressure). The formation is actually named for an outcrop near Marcellus, NY.

[PennsylvaniaLand]

Scott, this is a good point and Im glad you brought it up. Im a professional geologist in Appalachia. You're right, the marcellus is shallow in NY (at the surface is some areas), meaning this is natural seepage - which has NOTHING to do with drilling. Again, video was takin a year before a single MARCELLUS well was drilled. how could this ever be attributed to drilling and fracking the marcellus??? Just another example of just awful + false marcellus publicity, and people buy into it somehow.

[PennsylvaniaLand]

And by saying "the area has reported geologic faults".. well, you're arguing my point here. if there are faults, natural gas can naturally flow upwards through the faults into the water supply - Completely unrelated to gas drilling. As a professional geologist this is common knowledge. So you acknowledge there are natural pathways for the gas to reach the surface (faults) yet you are certain it's from drilling? huh? we get it, you are anti-drilling anything, but get your story straight first.

[PennsylvaniaLand]

You're right. There have been thousands of non-marcellus wells drilled dating back to 1900. THIS WAS NOT CAUSED BY THE MARCELLUS. The industry back then had completely different regulations of casing and protecting water tables (I'll admit, they WERE bad back then - 1900-1980ish). These wells have nothing to do with MODERN (Marcellus) drilling. You still havent answered my question. Video taken in 2006, first marcellus drilled in 2007. How can you say this is from marcellus drilling????

[murphyer]

@toxicstargeting did you miss the part about how he's lived there since the 60's, and its a recent phenomenon. how many geological events have happened in that area since then which could cause this...or maybe its the wells...hmmm, I wonder...sorry, im just from a town where a sizable portion of the population has died from cancer or has crohns from the crimes of big business...and of course they are not yet held accountable

[jmecrg]

@murphyer i wonder how many times he tryed to light his water in the 70`s or 80`s or 90`s i bet it would have lite on fire then too before the oil co`s where there

[PennsylvaniaLand]

There wasn't a single marcellus well drilled in New York until December 2007.... which isnt even 2 years ago.. Yet this problem started 3 years ago: in 2006. In your next post can you make a video explaining how the gas gets into the water supply a year before they even start drilling?

Another great piece from a clueless environmentalist.

[diggitty333]

I remember being able to do the same thing in my grandmother's kitchen in Tioga county Pa. in1965