Most Americans favor clean water over energy production, according to a national study released Tuesday, but a natural gas industry spokesman insists the two are unrelated.

â€œThe survey by the Civil Society Institute on hydraulic fracturing sets up a false choice between environmental protection, and natural gas production,â€ Americaâ€™s Natural Gas Alliance spokesman Dan Whitten said. â€œThe premise behind the study is that people must sacrifice clean water for natural gas production, and that is simply not true.â€

The survey, billed as the first national poll to gauge attitudes on the subject of hydraulic fracturing, showed that nearly half of Americans are aware of the controversy surrounding the practice that officials credit for revolutionizing the natural gas industry.

Opponents are concerned hydraulic fracturing, or â€œfracking,â€ threatens drinking water supplies, a notion rejected by industry officials who note the technique has been used safely for decades.

â€œHydraulic fracturing is a safe, proven process that is already well-regulated at the state level by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission,â€ said Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association President Mike Terry. â€œHydraulic fracturing has been used in Oklahoma for the past 60 years, and its use is essential to the production of oil and natural gas in our state.â€

Whitten said there is no proof the practice is a threat to the environment.

â€œThe process of hydraulic fracturing has been routinely and safely used for decades, bringing economic prosperity to local communities and significant environmental benefits,â€ Whitten said. â€œFrom the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to the Ground Water Protection Council, to the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, the process has been examined and found to be safe.â€

Still, the Civil Society Instituteâ€™s survey shows 81 percent of Americans agree with this statement: â€œWater shortages and clean drinking water are real concerns. America should put the emphasis on first developing new energy sources that require the least water and have minimal water pollution.â€

The survey also indicates 78 percent of Americans would support â€œtighter public disclosure requirements as well as studies of the health and environmental consequences of the chemicals used in natural gas drilling.â€ Only 16 percent would oppose such disclosure.

â€œClean energy production is strongly favored by Americans over energy sources that create a danger to human health and safe drinking water in particular,â€ said Pam Solo, the nonprofit think tankâ€™s founder and president. â€œFracking is a perfect illustration of the fact that Americans donâ€™t think of an energy source as â€˜cheapâ€™ or â€˜cleanâ€™ if there is a hidden price in terms of safe drinking water and human health.

â€œThe message from our new survey is clear: Americans of all political persuasions prefer to see clean energy development that protects water supplies over traditional fossil fuel production that endangers safe drinking water and human health.â€

Whitten said industry officials agree disclosure of chemicals used in natural gas drilling is an appropriate step.

â€œThat is why the natural gas community has joined together in support of an effort being undertaken by state regulators to develop a registry of hydraulic fracturing chemicals used on a well-by-well basis,â€ he said.

State-by-state data from the survey was not available, except for opposition-heavy Pennsylvania and New York, but people in southern states â€” including Oklahoma â€” did not offer significantly different answers from the rest of the nation, according to polling officials.

The exception was in reacting to the statement, â€œSmarter energy choices are the key to creating new jobs and a future that is healthy and safe because fossil fuels create toxic wastes that are a threat to our health and safety.â€

Only 70 percent of survey respondents in the south agreed with that statement, compared with 82 percent in the northeast and 80 percent in the west.