According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average volume of water used per fracturing operation in the United States ranged from 1.5 million to 16 million gallons in 2015. This is a significant decrease from the average of 25 million gallons per fracturing operation in 2011.
The EPA also estimates that the total amount of water used for fracking in the United States in 2015 was approximately 29 billion gallons. This is a fraction of the total amount of water used in the United States each day, which is approximately 322 billion gallons.
Fracking water use has declined in recent years due to a number of factors, including the use of more efficient drilling and completion practices, the use of recycled water, and the use of alternative fracturing fluids. The use of recycled water and alternative fracturing fluids has reduced the amount of fresh water required for fracking by approximately 50% since 2011.
In addition, many states have adopted regulations to reduce water use in fracking, including requiring operators to disclose their water use and to recycle water whenever possible. These regulations have helped to further reduce water use in fracking.
While water use in fracking has declined significantly in recent years, it remains a concern for many people. There is concern that fracking could deplete groundwater resources, contaminate drinking water supplies, and harm aquatic ecosystems. However, the vast majority of studies on fracking have not found evidence of significant adverse environmental impacts.
