Wastewater also contains the naturally occurring chemicals found in the formation water. Formation
water is generally brine (salty water) because of the origin of the Marcellus Shale in a shallow sea. For more
on how the geology of the Marcellus Shale influences drilling conditions and outcomes, see Marcellus Shale Isue 3: Why the Geology Matters. Formation water is not unique to shale gas wells; it is present to some degreein almost all sedimentary rocks and is an expected part of almost all fossil fuel extraction. Formation water also contains heavy metals, naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other dissolved solids (primarily salts). All of these things have the potential to harm human health and the environment if they are not disposed of properly