Oil/Gas is far under ground, much farther than the water. Between the oil and the water is an impermeable layer, except in the few places where oil oozes out of the ground. Everything is good.
But, the whole concept of fracking is to use chemicals to suspend tiny particles in liquid. Under high pressure, the rock containing the oil fractures and the liquid carries the particles into the cracks. When the pressure is released and the fracking fluid pumped out, then oil/gas can move through the cracks which are held open by the particles.
If those cracks run too far and crack the rock all the way to the water, then the chemicals can get into the water. The tiny particles can hold the cracks open (that’s their job) so more chemicals and oil and gas get into the water system. Everything is not good.
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