Forston Labs introduces fracking water testing kit

FORT COLLINS – Forston Labs will launch a product this week that helps homeowners test their water for chemicals associated with hydraulic fracturing.

People who get their water from wells near oil and gas development can test for contamination by hazardous chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process.

In hydraulic fracturing, producers use chemicals, water and sand to break apart rock to release natural gas. Citing Environmental Protection Agency documents, Forston Labs says those chemicals can include benzene, known to cause cancer, and others.

Some chemicals occur naturally in groundwater, but can be found at toxic levels in water contaminated…