Nearly 3 billion gallons (or the equivalent of 454 Olympic swimming pools) of oil industry wastewater were illegally dumped into central California's aquifer supplying drinking water and irrigation to farmers.



Documents obtained by The Center for Biological Diversity also revealed that Central Valley Water Board tests found high levels of arsenic, thallium and nitrates in water supply wells near nine of the hydraulic fracking wastewater disposal operations. Sullying fresh water contravenes both California's state law and the federal Safe Water Drinking Act, which protects aquifers.

California has an estimated 2,853 wastewater injection sites, of which 1,552 are currently active, including offshore wells near Santa Barbara.

Thallium is extremely toxic; it's used in rat poison. Arsenic is known to cause cancer.