Hydraulic fracturing is a process that releases trapped natural gas by widening cracks in the surrounding rock via pressure created by pumping a mixture of water, sand and chemical additives, like benzene, deep underground via a well. Hydraulic fracturing dates back to the 1940s, but it didn't become popular until 2003, when natural gas companies began exploring alternative energy resources. Although hydraulic fracturing is an effective engineering process, the act of engineers allowing it to continue is unethical because it violates the first canon of the ASCE Code of Ethics, which is as follows: “Engineers must prioritize the safety, health and well-being of people. public and strive to respect the principles of sustainable development in the exercise of their professional functions” (ASCE.org). It is unethical for engineers to allow a potentially dangerous process to continue and expand in the United States and around the world without first proving to the public that hydraulic fracturing is safe or not through clear and concise unbiased research. The amount of water required and the various chemical additives used in fracking fluid pose a threat to the safety, health and welfare of the public. Hydraulic fracturing uses a concoction of muddy water, sand and chemicals combined with pressure to stimulate the creation or expansion of cracks in shale. One of the main concerns is the large amount of fresh water used and lost in current fracking techniques. Some fracking techniques can use up to 8 million gallons of water, either fresh water or treated produced water. This fresh water represents approximately 98 to 99% of the total volume of melting snow (fracfocus.org). Once fracking occurs, the middle of paper could be the cause as they would be sued for leaking corporate secrets. Hydraulic fracturing is a controversial process. You have multiple opinions on the issue, from environmental, economic, public and private perspectives. However, only one view is correct: it is an ethical choice between whether fracking is safe or not. The engineers' act of allowing fracking to continue is unethical because the process uses large amounts of fresh water that directly affects public health and welfare. Hydraulic fracturing leaves the fracking fluid deep underground where it is trapped and does not recharge the earth's overall water cycle. Further research is needed to determine how to contain and minimize the potential effects of deep underground additives on the ground and how to reduce the amount of fresh water used in the fracturing process..