L51379 Impacts of the Natural Gas Industry on Drinking Water Quality and Human Health

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under the authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, has responsibility for setting standards for safe drinking water. This and other recently enacted or amended public laws gives EPA broad regulatory responsibility for insuring the quality of both surface and groundwater supplies. Under these various laws each major industry will be evaluated for their potential impact on water quality and for any resultant effects on human health or the environment.

The report summarizes the results of a research project conducted by Midwest Research Institute (MRI) for the Pipeline Research Committee of the Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI) in support of the Association’s activity in the water quality area. This study involved the review of available information on the health effects of the natural constituents and odorant additives of natural gas. Effort was also directed toward the compilation of available information on the levels of natural gas in groundwater supplies.