These days, it's not often that you see an article on hydraulic fracturing that doesn't blame the energy resource industry for the end of the world. That's why this article from National Geographic was so refreshing (discussing the use of the technology in the Marcellus Shale). Regarding water issues, for example: "If shale development continues to grow in the Marcellus, water usage for well fracking could reach 650 million barrels per year in Pennsylvania, New York and West Virginia, concluded a report done earlier this year for the U.S. Department of Energy and state authorities. It sounds like a lot until it’s compared to the other water uses in the three states. It would total less than 0.8 percent of the 85 billion barrels drawn yearly out of watersheds in the three states, said the study by ALL Consulting of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Coal and nuclear power plants, in particular, draw many times more water."
Nice job overall, and highly recommended reading.