A recent Associated Press analysis found that in oil- and gas-producing states, “more than 180 million gallons of wastewater spilled from 2009 to 2014 in incidents involving ruptured pipes, overflowing storage tanks, and even deliberate dumping.” Wastewater spills can damage soil and water because of extreme salinity and heavy metals such as arsenic and mercury.
In an infographic in Resources magazine, RFF’s Yusuke Kuwayama, Alan Krupnick, Skyler Roeshot, and Jan Mares examine the belief that “storage tanks are a better choice than pits because they provide a ‘closed system’ and can greatly reduce the possibilities of spills.” They found that although the use of tanks is not a fail-safe alternative, in New Mexico from 2000 to 2014, “spills from pits occurred twice as often as spills from tanks, while also losing over 10 times as much fluid over the study period.”
RFF on the Issues connects today’s pressing news with related research and expertise at RFF.
