A major concern regarding natural gas extraction is water contamination.

Water contamination is a significant concern in natural gas extraction, particularly in the process of hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking." During fracking, large volumes of water mixed with chemicals are injected into the ground to release natural gas from shale rock formations. This process can potentially lead to the contamination of nearby groundwater if chemicals or fracking fluids seep into water sources. There are also concerns about the disposal of wastewater, which may contain harmful substances. Although regulatory measures are in place, the risk of water contamination remains a key environmental issue associated with natural gas extraction.