Auburn city in US re-imposes ban on treating water from hydrofracking process

Auburn city council in New York, US, has confirmed the ban on treating water produced as a by-product of natural gas drilling.

The decision was voted 4:1 by the members of the city council. The complete ban came into effect immediately, reported The Citizen.

The ban was originally imposed in 2011 and was marginally lifted a year later.

Corporation Counsel John Rossi said that in 2012, the city’s wastewater treatment plant was allowed by the officials to accept water from vertical, and not horizontal, natural gas drilling wells.

The ban follows a report submitted by engineering firm GHD Consulting in March.

In 2012, State Department of Environmental Conservation appointed GHD for an analysis regarding wastewater treatment policy.

The consultant concluded that the wastewater obtained after natural gas drilling should not be accepted, as the resultant chloride levels can destroy biological treatment processes used in the city’s wastewater treatment facility.

The report said the treated water already contains chloride, as it treats waste from other industrial plants. Inclusion of wastewater treatment from the hydrofracking units would increase the chloride levels.

Councilor Peter Ruzicka was the only one who voted against the resolution. He said that additional studies need to be undertaken before any decision is taken on the ban.

---

Image: Auburn city council has banned treatment of water produced by natural gas drilling processes. Photo: courtesy of J Bar / Wikipedia.