Fracking in B.C. uses more freshwater than ever, as drought grips the Peace Region

Unceded Coast Salish Territories (Vancouver, B.C.) – Oil and gas companies in B.C. have taken a record six billion litres of freshwater primarily for their fracking operations last year, according to data from the BC Energy Regulator (BCER) which is being tracked by Stand.earth. This represents an increase of over 800 million litres, or 16% more freshwater taken, since 2022 just as the impacts of the drought in B.C.’s northeast were intensifying.  

Sven Biggs, Canadian Oil and Gas Programs Director with Stand.earth, who has been tracking B.C.’s oil and gas water usage annually, said:

“Climate impacts caused by the oil and gas sector are making drought seasons in B.C. worse, yet the industry’s water-grab has grown by 16 percent since last year and shows no sign of slowing. As of 2023, the fossil fuels sector has consumed over six billion litres of fresh water — enough to supply every B.C. household for a week. This is why we are calling on the provincial government to reduce the amount of water that fracking companies use by making some common-sense changes to the way they regulate the fossil fuel industry. This starts with charging fracking companies a price for water high enough to encourage the conservation of freshwater, and requiring them to treat the toxic waste water they produce.”

Each fracking well uses between five million and 30 million litres of water. After the fracking process is complete, the wastewater that returns to the surface is so toxic that it cannot be returned to the water cycle. Water treatment for fracked water is not required in B.C. so the freshwater that fracking uses – taken from rivers and lakes – is gone forever.

The drought is responsible for unnatural disasters including the largest wildfire in B.C.’s recorded history: the Donnie Creek fires which burned over 5,715 square kilometers in the Peace River region last year.

A new poll conducted by Leger found that 69% of B.C. residents agree the provincial government should introduce new measures to reduce and regulate freshwater use by oil and gas companies, particularly for fracking.  

Stand.earth is calling on the B.C. provincial government to:

1. Require the treatment and increased reuse of fracking wastewater to reduce the amount of freshwater used in the process;

2. Improve standards for disposal wells and begin baseline and ongoing testing of water systems impacted by oil and gas; 

3. End special treatment for oil and gas by returning the power to issue water license and permits for the industry to the Water Stewardship Branch; and 

4. Charge fracking companies a price for water high enough to encourage the conservation of freshwater.

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Notes for Editors: Read the paper here regarding freshwater usage by the oil and gas industry.

For more information about what the oil and gas industry pays for water see here.

Media Contacts

Sven Biggs, Canadian Oil and Gas Programs Director – Stand.earth +1 778-882-8354 sven@stand.earth (Pacific Time)

Arin de Hoog, Communications, Oil, Gas and Shipping – Stand.earth. +1 613-978-7329 arin.dehoog@stand.earth (Eastern Time)