Fracking with Freshwater 2025
Water consumption by the oil and gas sector increased by a record-breaking 50% in 2024.
At a time where we should be making every effort to conserve water and phase out fossil fuels, oil and gas companies in B.C. withdrew and polluted enough freshwater for more than 110,000 households – the equivalent to the entire population of Nanaimo.
While B.C.’s Peace River Region is facing an ongoing severe drought freshwater has been poisoned and permanently removed from the water cycle.
Once used by fossil fuel companies, this water is contaminated with toxic chemicals, salts, heavy metals, and radioactive materials, and injected into deep disposal wells, never to return to rivers, lakes, or aquifers.
To address this crisis, Stand.earth is calling on the B.C. government to:
- Require treatment and reuse of fracking wastewater to reduce freshwater use.
- Strengthen disposal well standards, including baseline and ongoing water testing.
- End special treatment for oil and gas by centralizing water licensing under the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.
- Charge higher, scaled water rates to incentivize conservation and ensure polluting industries pay their fair share.
Click here to take action!
