Protect Water and Communities from Oil and Gas

Clean Water Action works to protect water, health, climate and communities from oil and gas while pushing for the transition to a clean energy economy.

We work to secure the strongest possible protections to limit the impacts of oil and gas development and to end the special treatment for the fossil fuel industry at the local, state, and national levels.

Pump jacks with a methane flare in the background

Publications

The Environmental Risks and Oversight of Enhanced Oil Recovery in the United States

Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) is the most common oil recovery practice in the U.S., accounting for an estimated 60% of domestic crude oil production. EOR involves the injection of fluids underground to increase the flow of oil and gas to the surface. Despite its prevalence, EOR is largely unknown to the public, poses threats to groundwater, and lacks adequate oversight from state and federal regulators.

Aquifer Exemptions: Sacrificing Groundwater for Oil and Gas Production

The Aquifer Exemption program in the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Underground Injection Control (UIC) program allows certain oil and gas and mining activity to occur in groundwater that would otherwise be protected as a drinking water source.

Put Drinking Water First: Time to Curb Power Plants' Toxic Pollution

Clean Water Action’s analysis of supporting documents for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Proposed Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Steam Electric Power Generating Point Source Category confirms that power plant discharges to surface water often include contaminants that experts consider to be “contaminants of concern” when found in drinking water.

We work to secure the strongest possible protections to limit the impacts of oil and gas development and to end the special treatment for the fossil fuel industry at the local, state, and national levels.