How Colorado protects water from oil and gas contamination

DENVER — For most Coloradans, the sound of a babbling brook conjures up feelings of relaxation and connection to nature. But for some, it’s a reminder of what we stand to lose.

“Water is life. Water is precious. And a lot of water is used up and made permanently toxic by fracking. Not to mention that spills and leaks from oil and gas can contaminate our groundwater and our surface water,” said Bobbie Mooney, an organizer with the grassroots group 350 Colorado. “To have spaces like this risking contamination from oil and gas is really upsetting and concerning because once it’s contaminated, there’s really no undoing that.”

Mooney isn’t alone in those concerns. A Denver7 viewer recently wrote in to ask us how Colorado is protecting our water from potential contamination by the oil and gas industry. To find out, we talked with an industry representative, a climate activist, a public health researcher and the state’s regulatory agencies.

Read the rest of this article and watch the accompanying video at Denver7.com