I'd like to thank Natasha Watson who posted on Sydney Residents Against Coal Seam Gas facebook page. It was her post on Legal Reform - NSW Office of Water that caught my eye.

I didn't know, but as of 1 July 2011 NSW strengthened legislation to limit the amount of water new mining and petroleum exploration could withdraw from the aquifer. For an interim period this regulation requires fossil fuel companies to access a water licence if they draw more than 3 megalitres of groundwater.

An Olympic size swimming pool holds roughly 2.5 megalitres. Three megalitres is still a lot of water. From what studies I have read in the United States 4.6 million gallons or approximately 17 million litres is used for fracking and drilling one well. I could be wrong, but those figures come from the U.S. Department of Energy's April 2009 Primer on Modern Shale Gas Development.

With those numbers I would think Gas frackers are going to need a water licence. That's a lot of water, isn't it? I still find that figure mind blowing.

Mighty thanks to whoever you are, who worked to get this legislation passed. It certainly passed at a crucial point in our history. 

No Rest for the Wicked:

The draft aquifer interference policy will be placed on public exhibition to allow feedback from interested parties. Following consultation with the community, the policy will be finalised and new regulations enacted. The final NSW Aquifer Interference Policy will be applied state wide to clarify water licence and approval requirements for aquifer interference activities. NSW Office of Water

We need to write to our Ministers and give feedback. We can't be apathetic about water. As we can see there are certain businesses who want our water very badly. They probably want it at a pittance too. Multiply the number of wells proposed and you begin to grasp the picture. We must be vigilant.