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Saltwater disposal wells

The City of Fort Worth, Texas, is located in the middle of the Barnett Shale natural gas drilling trend.

Thousands of wells have been drilled, resulting in a large volume of waste saltwater transported daily from the city to saltwater disposal wells. A typical gas well can produce about 100 barrels (4200 gallons) of saltwater a day.

A moratorium against saltwater disposal wells is in place until April 30, 2012. Without these wells, gas drilling companies must truck millions of gallons of water outside the city as a byproduct of the hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, process. Heavy truck traffic causes wear on city streets.

The city is conducting public meetings to educate the public about saltwater wells and to gather feedback about the practice. The meetings are scheduled for:

• Jan. 19, Tarrant County College Corporate Training Center, 13600 Heritage Parkway, Suite 100
• Jan. 26, Tarrant County College South Campus, Student Center, Room SSTU2105, 5301 Campus Drive
• Feb. 2, Lost Creek Country Club, 4101 Lost Creek Blvd., Aledo
• Feb. 9, TCC Opportunity Center, 5901 Fitzhugh.
• Feb. 23, City Council Chambers, 1000 Throckmorton St.

All meetings are 7-9 p.m.

Following the public meetings, the City Council will be briefed on the results, and a public hearing is scheduled for March 6, 2012, at a City Council meeting.

For additional information or to submit a comment or question, email FortWorthDisposalWells@fortworthtexas.gov.