Tigereye wrote:
It really depends on which plant it goes to and what that plant's (permitted) capabilities are. In a general sense, a typical treatment plant will remove organics and solids. Some remove metals. The problem with frack water is the high amount of halides (chlorine Bromine etc in the form of salts) and some radioactive materials. These contaminants are essentially pass thru.
There really is no good cost effective way to remove these contaminants. Early on, fracking companies were sending this material to treatment plants, but regs and permits did not keep up with the industry. Treatment plants' permitted effluents were based on concentration, (Lbs/gal) and halides (salts) were not included in many of permits. Again pass thru.
When the CWA was reauthorised, treatment plants' effluents became regulated under TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load). No longer concentration based but "how many pounds per day" is one discharging. This took away the pass thru "dilution" capabilities of plants
As with all things, by trying to help, the gov't made things more complicated. As the regulations tightened, frackers began to recycle water causing it to become more concentrated before eventually needing to be disposed. This highly concentrated brine solution now imparts a higher TMDL to the accepting treatment plant, making it tougher and more expensive to dispose.
And so the cirlce continues.
Now think of all the road salt that is spread annually that enters the streams to put things in perspective.
