During the 'Engineers' Dialogue: Fracking or No Fracking regarding water' forum, organized by the Mexican College of Civil Engineers, an analysis was presented regarding the impact of fracking on water resources. The data revealed that this activity represents only a small fraction of the total water volume used by the industrial sector.
The technique ranks seventh among various industrial water uses. According to the findings, the process consumes between 1% and 2% of the sector's total usage.
“It is a very small fraction of the volume used in the industrial sector, which includes fracking; therefore, in terms of quantity, it does not represent a major problem at the state level,” the speaker noted during the presentation. However, technical clarification was provided, noting that the impact must be evaluated on a specific, local level.
Use of non-potable sources
Each drilled well requires between 20 and 30 million liters of water. This intensive consumption is temporary, occurring only during the fracturing stage, which lasts between 15 and 20 days.
Following this period, the extraction stage does not require significant volumes of water. Furthermore, water concessions for these tasks are short-term, unlike other industrial activities that hold near-permanent concessions.
The water used for fracking does not need to be fresh or potable. The process can utilize seawater or water from deep aquifers, provided that total dissolved solids remain below 10,000 parts per million.
The use of wastewater is also considered a viable alternative. Similarly, water from independent aquifers that is unfit for human consumption can be used, whether due to high extraction costs or the complexity of transferring existing water rights.
