Fracking in Washington County
Washington County has been at the forefront of Pennsylvania’s shale gas boom, with thousands of horizontal wells drilled across its rolling terrain. The county’s proximity to Pittsburgh and its extensive network of well pads, pipelines, and processing facilities have made it a focal point for both energy production and environmental health research.
PFAS and fracking fluids
In addition to documented PFAS concerns from industrial and firefighting sources, Washington County’s fracking industry has used drilling-fluid additives that include fluorosurfactants. The interaction between legacy industrial contamination and newer shale-gas activity creates a complex exposure landscape for residents on private wells.
Private well water in Washington
Washington County has a mix of municipal water systems and rural private wells. Well owners in the county’s more rural townships may be particularly vulnerable if their groundwater was affected by nearby drilling, wastewater disposal, or impoundment leakage.
Who may qualify in Washington County
- Washington County well owners with water quality complaints filed after fracking operations commenced nearby.
- Residents diagnosed with kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, or other PFAS-linked conditions after years of local well-water consumption.
- Families who were provided alternative water by a drilling operator or the DEP due to well contamination.
- Former or current workers in Washington County gas-field operations with direct chemical exposure.
- Property owners who have test results showing PFAS or other industrial contaminants in their well water.
Attorney advertising. Information for Washington County residents only. Submitting a form does not create an attorney-client relationship. Cases may be referred to qualified national PFAS co-counsel; any fee-sharing arrangement will be disclosed in writing before representation begins.