Scientists suggest new ways to clean water, create energy

Global Business

As hydraulic fracturing expands in the US and across the world, the problem becomes what to do with all the waste water that’s generated during the process. It’s estimated the industry produces 21 billion barrels of waste water in the U.S. each year. Now, some Colorado engineers have found a way to clean that water. CCTV’s Hendrik Sybrandy filed this report from Boulder, Colorado.

Scientists suggest new ways to clean water, create energy

As hydraulic fracturing expands in the US and across the world, the problem becomes what to do with all the waste water that's generated during the process. It's estimated the industry produces 21 billion barrels of waste water in the U.S. each year. Now, some Colorado engineers have found a way to clean that water. CCTV's Hendrik Sybrandy filed this report from Boulder, Colorado.

Highlights:

  • Up to a million gallons of fresh water are needed at each wellhead to complete the fracking process. And disposing of all that wastewater has become a mountain-sized issue for the industry.
  • In the approach being suggested, called microbial capacitive desalination, microbes eat the hydrocarbons, then release their embedded energy.
  • The scientists believe their technology could eventually prevent waste water from being injected deep underground and could lower treatment and disposal costs for oil and gas companies.