Two companies that dispose of wastewater from natural gas drilling sites are being forced to cease operations. 

            At Central Arkansas Disposal, big-rigs used to back up this drive and dump hundreds of thousands of gallons of water into these storage tanks, before being pumped into an irrigation system and sprinkled on nearby fields.

            But today, the place is completely quiet.

            The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality issued an emergency order against CAD, requiring them to cease operations immediately.

            The report alleges that an individual complained of dumping in a nearby reservoir upon, testing the reservoir, the report says ADEQ found that chloride levels were too high. It also says an employee conceded that the fluid in the reservoir was from the CAD facility and that nearby Raft Creek had been contaminated, causing fish kills. Lastly, the report adds that the discharge of drilling fluids into raft creek presents and imminent danger to public health and welfare.

“We were concerned with the testing that we did of adjacent waterways where chloride levels were higher than they should have been and that indicates to us that there was runoff from these facilities to adjacent waterways of the state," said Director of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, Theresa Marks.

            The fluid in question comes from the gas drilling process--and during parts of the process can be as harmless as fresh water, but during others require more sensitive disposal because of collected chemicals.

            Chesapeake energy who was one of several companies to contract with this facility to dispose of chemicals, says they will no longer.

"At the very least, it was irresponsible, at the very worst, it was intentional. It's not to our standard. Its not acceptable to ADEQ and its not acceptable to us," said Danny Games of Chesapeake Energy.

            Representatives from CAD spoke with KARK and denied they ever put any fluid in the reservoir.

CAD declined to go on camera however, until they know more about the allegations against them.

Both the company and the ADEQ say they will work together to remove the permit violations--if the company is found to be in compliance.

The other company under the cease and desist order is Fayetteville Shale Land Farm, under the same parent company as CAD. 

There is no apparent contamination of area drinking water.