Fracking company's own models warn wastewater could flood Kimberley river
Black Mountain Energy created secret modelling. It shows wastewater ponds could overflow into the Martuwarra Fitzroy River during heavy rainfall.
A Texan company's documents show wastewater ponds at the Valhalla Gas Project in Western Australia's Kimberley. The ponds could flood into the Fitzroy River during heavy rain.
The company created this model after the state watchdog approved the project. Ponds would overflow if two wells were fracked in one year and 70 per cent of wastewater came back to the surface during above-average rainfall.
The model only tested a one-in-200 year flood event, not worse scenarios. The company told the federal regulator about this risk but not the state regulator.
Fracking water at the site has high salt levels and toxic metals including boron and barium.
- 2 wells
- Wells per year threshold
- 70 per cent
- Wastewater return rate
- one-in-200 year
- Flood event modelled
- boron and barium
- Toxic metals in water
Why it mattersContaminated wastewater spilling into the river could poison drinking water. It could damage farming and harm wildlife across a major waterway.
AustraliaThe Fitzroy River supplies communities across the Kimberley and the broader Pilbara region; an overflow could devastate water quality and the economy.
Corroborated bytheage.com.au·watoday.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 29 d ago
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