Fracking and Transboundary Water Management

Hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") presents challenges for water management, both in terms of water supply and water quality. These challenges are compounded when the water sources impacted by fracking operations cross political boundaries. This article describes three cases of inter-jurisdictional water governance institutions managing impacts from fracking operations: (1) the Delaware River Basin Commission in the United States comprised of States sharing the Delaware River; (2) the Guarani Aquifer Treaty Commission comprised of four countries sharing the Guarani Aquifer in South America; and (3) the Great Artesian Basin Coordinating Committee in Australia, comprised of States sharing the Great Artesian Basin. This article then draws lessons from these cases for managing the impacts of fracking across political boundaries, and the role of such institutions in facilitating a transition from a hydrocarbon-based energy economy to a renewable one.