COGCC water quality database now available to public

Here’s the release from the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (Todd Hartman):

Water quality information assembled by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission is now available to the public through a new tool on the agency’s website, http://cogcc.state.co.us/

The database of water samples allows the public to view water quality for specific locations throughout Colorado and marks a significant milestone in the COGCC’s ongoing efforts to monitor, protect and quantify water quality as part of its regulatory oversight of oil and gas development in the state.

“We’re glad to have this data now available for Colorado citizens who seek more information about oil and gas development in their communities,” said COGCC director Matt Lepore. “We hope this data is helpful as we continue to work closely with local governments, industry and neighbors to balance production of important energy resource with protection of our precious water supplies.”
COGCC maintains one of the largest collections of water quality data in Colorado. The new public site is live with data received since January 1, 2011, consisting of samples from 450 wells or other locations, including springs. Additional sampling data from thousands of samples taken over many previous years will be added over the next several months.

In the near term, data obtained in recent months associated with the Colorado Oil and Gas Association’s voluntary groundwater monitoring program will be added. Historic sampling data received from several sources dating back many years will be migrated to the database by the end of 2012.

The water quality information in the database has been collected for a variety of purposes: in support of investigations, remediation projects, conditions of approval attached to specific permits, and voluntary and mandated sampling programs. When all of the available data is migrated to the database, and as new sampling data is collected and added, the COGCC database will be among the most comprehensive water quality databases in the nation.

To use the database, click on the link marked “Water Sampling Data Now Available” on the COGCC home page. From there, click on GIS Online link or on the “Go to Map” link associated with the “Water/Gas Sample Data.” After a map loads, you can zoom into an area using the

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