Susquehanna River Basin Low Flow Water Conditions Trigger Water Withdrawal Restrictions On 40 Shale Gas Water Withdrawal Points; 17 Shale Gas Withdrawals Blocked By Ice Conditions

On December 11, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission Hydrologic Conditions Monitor shows low flow water conditions have triggered water withdrawal restrictions on 40 shale gas development withdrawal points in Pennsylvania and another 17 shale gas withdrawal points are blocked by ice conditions.

Shale gas water withdrawal points are among the first to be restricted by low flow and ice conditions because many of the withdrawals are on smaller streams.

Click Here for a list of withdrawal points impacted.

No Western PA Information

Similar information is not available for the Northwest and Southwest areas of the state in the Ohio River Watershed where there is shale gas drilling because there is no agency like SRBC to regulate water withdrawals.

DEP does require shale gas drillers to have water management plans that include low-flow restrictions, but that’s just one more thing DEP has to enforce.

Report Violations

Contact the Susquehanna River Basin Commission to report suspected violations of these requirements.

Visit SRBC’s Hydrologic Conditions Monitor webpage to learn more.

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[Posted: December 11, 2025]  PA Environment Digest