Impact of shale gas wastewater discharge on the trace elements of the receiving river in the Sichuan Basin, China

The potential contamination of shale gas wastewater generated from hydraulic fracturing to water resources is of growing concern, yet minimum attention has been paid to the impact of shale gas wastewater on the trace elements of the receiving waters. In this study, we analyzed the levels of 50 trace elements of a river that receives effluent from a shale gas wastewater treatment facility in the Sichuan Basin, China. Sixteen trace elements were detected in the surface water sample from the effluent discharge site, all of which were of higher concentrations than the upstream background level. Among the 16 shale gas wastewater-related elements, Sr, Ba, and Li were of elevated levels in the downstream water samples (24.9-44.2%, 5.0-8.0 times, and 17.8-22.8 times higher than the upstream background level, respectively). Shale gas wastewater effluent may be related to the accumulation of Sr, Ba, Li, and Cs in riverbed sediments near and/or downstream of the effluent discharge site and may lead to elevated pollution level of Sr and Li in downstream sediments. The ecological risk of the riverbed sediments was of medium to high level, with Cd contributing to the most risk, while shale gas wastewater-related elements are of low potential risk throughout the river. Our results suggested that shale gas wastewater effluent discharge had limited impacts on the trace elements of the receiving river within two years.

Automated summary

This study analyzed the levels of 50 trace elements in a river in the Sichuan Basin, China, that receives effluent from a shale gas wastewater treatment facility. The results showed elevated concentrations of 16 shale gas wastewater-related elements in the surface water samples from the effluent discharge site compared to the upstream background level. The accumulation of Sr, Ba, Li, and Cs in riverbed sediments near and/or downstream of the effluent discharge site may contribute to elevated pollution levels of Sr and Li. The ecological risk of the riverbed sediments was medium to high, with Cd posing the highest risk. The potential risk of shale gas wastewater-related elements throughout the river was low.