It's been a little while since we've talked about fracking in this space, and it's become a big part of the discourse surrounding our energy future and our water supply.

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a method for extracting natural gas. Unlike old school gas drilling, fracking involves injecting a mystery blend of chemicals into the ground that helps increase the amount of gas the company can extract. Why is the blend a mystery? While we do know some of the chemicals used in fracking, natural gas companies are very tight-lipped about what they're using.

What we do know is that this proprietary blend of chemicals includes substances like formaldehyde and benzene (a known carcinogen) and that a recent scientific study linked fracking to flammable drinking water. That's right: tap water that catches on fire.

Fracking is also exempt from regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Air Act, parts of the Clean Water Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act.

A recent music video breaks down the issue very succinctly, and I thought I'd share it here:

Get Heard

Are you opposed to fracking? Sign the Food & Water Watch petition asking Congress to ban fracking. You can also take steps to reduce your natural gas consumption.

h/t: ProPublica

Image Credit: Screenshot from music video.