Hydraulic fracturing, also known as "fracking," has come under scrutiny for its potential impacts on water, including the risks to water quality and the amount of water used in the practice. California's new regulations on petroleum well stimulation treatments are set to take effect on July 1, 2015, and include multiple measures to safeguard against risks to water quality from fracking. These new requirements, coupled with the results of an independent study issued pursuant to Senate Bill 4 (SB 4), which found that fracking in the Golden State utilizes significantly less water than in other areas of the country, confirm that curtailing hydraulic fracturing will not be a path to resolving the state's water woes.
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