Report: Amount of fracking wastewater increased in Ohio

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

State data show the amount of hydraulic fracturing wastewater pumped underground in Ohio increased by more than 15 percent last year.

The increase comes as drilling for shale in the process known as fracking has slowed nationwide.

Fracking is when a mixture of water, sand and chemicals is pumped at high pressure into wells to fracture shale formations and free oil and natural gas underground.

The water can be recycled and reused, but it eventually must be disposed of. Ohio is best suited to take wastewater from other states because of its more than 200 injection wells.