Apache fracking operations use similar amount of water to a farm
Houston firm Apache's oil drilling operations in the recently discovered reserves at Alpine High in Reeves County would consume around 27,000 barrels of water per day, around the same as some local farms, according to a white paper from Rice University. It found that if Apache develops the 350,000 site slowly, it would use the same amount of water as irrigating a 50-acre farm with about one inch of water. The findings may ease local concerns about the environmental impact of the project.

Rohan Strong snorkels in the crystal clear waters of the worlds largest spring-fed swimming pool at Balmorhea State Park Friday, Sept. 16, 2016 four miles west of Balmorhea in Toyahvale, TX. Houston-based Apache Corporation recently announced the discovery of an estimated 15 billion barrels of oil and gas in the area and plans to drill and use hydraulic fracturing on the 350,000 acres surrounding the park. Apache has leased the mineral rights under the park and town, but has promised not to drill on or under either. Even with the promises, some residents worry that the drilling could affect the 15 million gallons of water that flow through the pool every day and impact the more than 200,000 visitors the pool attracts annually.

Michael Ciaglo/Houston Chronicle