Shreveport Fuels Fracking with Cross Lake Water
In an unprecedented move, Shreveport, Louisiana is selling water drawn from Cross Lake to be used for fracking natural gas wells. This marks the first time the city has offered such a resource to fracking companies. The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Tom Dark, informed that the water is being supplied through a fire hydrant and sold at regular rates.
Details surrounding Water Usage
A fire hydrant located on S. Lakeshore Drive is filling up a pump situated miles away on Jefferson Paige Road. Interestingly, the pump carries no markings and does not display a meter showcasing the quantity of water used up to this point. Unfortunately, the city was unable to confirm the amount of water that has been sold so far or name the company making the purchase.
Water Treatment Before Use
The water being used for fracking does not come directly from Cross Lake. Instead, it goes through specialised treatment facilities before being supplied to the fracking company. Tom Dark revealed that the city is currently reviewing two proposals from companies wishing to install a pump directly into the lake. This careful consideration process is aimed at protecting the source of drinking water from potential misuse.
Lake Replenishment and Future Plans
Should these proposals be approved, the Shreveport City Council would need to pass a measure allowing the direct sale of water from Cross Lake for fracking. An interesting element of this plan is a commitment from the fracking company to replenish the lake. This replenishment would be achieved by channeling water from Twelve Mile Bayou into the lake – at the expense of the fracking company. Such a commitment is viewed as a responsible and sustainable approach to managing water resources.
Potential Implications of this Move
This unconventional move by Shreveport appears to fuel the expanding fracking operations by making available an essential resource. While it provides an additional income stream for the city, concerns are already rising about potential environmental implications. Nevertheless, the commitment to replenish the lake, coupled with the safeguard of a strict approval process, appears to demonstrate that the city is taking necessary precautions to balance economic growth opportunities with environmental sustainability.
However, for the city and residents, the far-reaching implications of this decision will unfold with time as the details of the water sale and usage become more transparent, and public understanding of the potential environmental risks of fracking continues to evolve.