Pa. borough investigates frack water dumped into sewer

A southwestern Pennsylvania borough is trying to figure out who dumped 3,000 to 4,000 gallons of hydraulic fracturing water into its sewer system.

Waynesburg officials tell the (Washington) Observer-Reporter the water was dumped between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. on Sept. 30.

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a process in which chemically-laced water is injected into underground shale formations to break them up and free natural gas for drillers. The water can include briny, or salty, substances, and traces of chemicals used in the process.

Assistant Borough Manager Bryan Cumberledge says there are only a few spots where somebody could have dumped the water and not have been seen publicly.

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The state Department of Environmental Protection was also investigating.

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