INTRODUCTION Fracking, also known as hydraulic fracturing or hydrofracking, is the process of extracting natural gas from shale (fine-grained sedimentary rock) deep within the earth and is considered a relatively new process . Although the technique of fracking has been known since the 1940s, only in the last decade has there been a fracking boom. The fracking process begins with a vertically drilled well, which then rotates ninety degrees and continues horizontally into the shale rock layer. A mixture of several thousand tons of sand, approximately eight million liters of water and two hundred thousand liters of various chemicals (known as fracking fluid) is then pumped at high pressure into the well to create cracks that the gas can use to escape. Sand is used to prevent cracks from closing, chemicals are used to compress water, kill bacteria and dissolve minerals. The natural gas that escapes is then brought back to the surface, where it is processed and shipped. Once the fracturing process is complete, the wastewater, containing potentially toxic chemicals, returns to the surface. Once the gas source is exhausted, wastewater is pumped deep underground and the well is sealed. This article will address how fracking contributes to water pollution and the resulting effects. CONTRIBUTIONS TO WATER POLLUTION A study conducted by the International Journal of Human and Ecological Risk Assessment found that wastewater created by fracking contains potentially toxic chemicals, total dissolved solids, natural contaminants from sedimentary rock, organic pollutants and normally present radioactive material (NORM). WATER CONTAMINANTS FROM FRACKING CHEMICALS An average of seventy different... half the paper......acking contributes to water pollution, but also produces the need for treatment of contaminated water sources. Therefore, there is not only an impact on the health of humans, but also an economic impact since water treatment requires money, sufficient space, the right location and is also time consuming. CONCLUSION Hydraulic fracturing has many impacts on freshwater sources used as drinking water supplies by humans. . These effects include chemical contamination with chemicals such as benzene (a carcinogen). For this reason, fracking can be considered a major cause of human mortality, especially in urban areas near drilling sites. Since many of the impacts of fracking are negative, it can be concluded that fracking is not a long-term sustainable practice, especially since the gas reserves will sooner or later run out and only the pollution created will remain..