Determination of trace metals and inorganic contaminants in the marcellus shale drilling near beaver run reservoir

The Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County contracted IUP faculty and students to carry a one year pilot around the Beaver Run Reservoir near Saltsburg, PA. In the past decade various mining companies including CONSOL Energy, drilled the shale horizontally using hydraulic fracturing approach. The study involved quarterly water sampling from the sites around the reservoir to test for total dissolved solids, some selected trace metals using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), inductively coupled optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and some selected inorganic salts using, Ion Chromatography. Analyzes to date have not shown direct correlation between Marcellus drilling operation and the elevated levels of the selected chemicals.