New Study Underway Investigating Water Usage in Marcellus Development

West Virginia Public Broadcasting reports that a new study has begun regarding the use of water in hydraulic fracturing in the Marcellus Shale in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.  The Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation is providing funding for the study, which is being undertaken by Downstream Strategies and the non-profit organization Earthworks, as well as Switzer Foundation scholars.  The goal of the study is to develop a life cycle analysis of water involved in drilling and hydraulic fracturing.  In addition to the amount of water used, the study will identify the source and the final destination of the water in order to compare water use for hydraulic fracturing to the water used for other types of energy production.  The findings of the study are expected to be available by the end of 2013.