Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what courses of action are available for people to raise concerns about suspected contamination of water as a result of fracking.

Concerns about any suspected contamination incidents, irrespective of source, should be raised with the Environment Agency via its incident hotline, details of which are available on the GOV.UK website.

As far as fracking is concerned we have robust regulatory controls in place. Shale gas wells must be designed, built and operated to standards set in the regulations governed by the Health and Safety Executive, and the Environment Agency will not permit the use of substances hazardous to groundwater to be used in hydraulic fracturing where they may enter groundwater and cause pollution. Industry practice, underpinned by regulations, ensures monitoring will be required prior to, during and post-operation of the site.

As with any activity, the Environment Agency can take enforcement action to prevent or remedy pollution of groundwater caused by the actions of operators.