ABSTRACT
Newly accessible shale deposits have dramatically increased global gas reserves and are touted as a bridge to a clean energy future. For example, in the U.S., where shale gas is projected to comprise 49% of national natural gas production by 2035, proponents argue that shale gas production can provide energy independence, create employment, and stimulate regional economies. Amidst this optimism, however, are growing concerns about the effects of shale gas extraction, and, in particular, hydraulic fracturing or “fracking”, on water resources [2]––concerns that are magnified in urban areas where human populations and extractive operations overlap. We believe that water conflicts arising from expansion of the U.S. shale gas industry foreshadow developments in other countries with cities situated over large shale-gas deposits, including Diyarbakir, Turkey; Ahmedabad, India; and Chongqing, China.
