Since 2004, when the controversial process known as “fracking” began in Pennsylvania, over 4,100 drinking water complaints related to oil and gas operations have been reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

But as Public Herald reported in January, DEP has determined that a shocking 93% of these water complaints are not related to oil and gas activity.

The discrepancy between the number of complaints and the Department’s confirmed cases begs the question – Why is DEP saying oil and gas isn’t to blame for so many complaints?

DEP has not responded to Public Herald’s questions about this discrepancy.

A number of speculative reasons have been offered by the industry, academics, and are parroted by mainstream media: farming chemicals, road salt, and the lack of private water well regulations. However, these factors have been present since before 2004 and therefore do not explain the rise in citizen complaints.

What’s new is fracking, a technology that requires massive quantities of trade-secret chemical solutions pumped underground with intense pressure to break apart bedrock and release fossil fuels and naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM). And in January 2017, Public Herald found that citizen complaints have increased alongside unconventional fracking wells since 2004.