Water
Sourcing

All of Cuadrilla’s water is sourced from a major utilities provider and is sourced from the mains. So far, our water has been provided by United Utilities in Lancashire.

Water is used in both the drilling and hydraulic fracturing phases.

During Cuadrilla’s operations at Preese Hall, 8,400 cubic metres of water were used for the fracture treatments.  Drilling at each site uses around 900 cubic metres, some of which is recycled water. During exploration, most fracturing water is not recycled. However, during the production phase, it is more practical to recycle the water across our sites.

Natural gas from shale uses much less water to produce the same energy as other sources. The graph below compares the usage of water during shale gas operations to the water consumption associated with other energy sources.

During dry spells and droughts, our supply would be restricted well before residents and farmers see any impact on their supplies.

Recycling

During exploration, most fracturing water is not recycled. However, during the production phase, it is more practical to recycle the water across our sites.