Dish, Texas - Pollution and Contamination

Pollution and Contamination

The 2010 documentary film Gasland visits DISH to uncover the hidden pollution and contamination caused by the natural gas industry.

Former mayor Calvin Tillman, an outspoken environmental activist, says he was forced to move his family out of DISH when his two sons began experiencing nose bleeds, which he says were caused by fracking.

Mayor Tillman used the small town's budget to fund an air quality study by Wolf Eagle Environmental, formerly known as Wolf Eagle Environmental Engineers & Consultants – but was forced to change its name upon it becoming public that the organization did not employ an actual licensed professional engineer on staff. You can find a copy of the study here.

On May 10, 2010, The Texas Department of State Health Services (TxDSHS) released air quality results for DISH, TX. The Final Report: DISH, Texas Exposure Investigation is the result of blood and urine samples from 28 DISH residents that were tested for volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The TxDSHS’s conclusion states, “The information obtained from this investigation did not indicate that community-wide exposures from gas wells or compressor stations were occurring in the sample population. This conclusion is based on the pattern of VOC values found in the samples. Other sources of exposure such as cigarette smoking, the presence of disinfectant by-products in drinking water, and consumer or occupational/hobby related products could explain many of the findings.” The result of this report is great news to the residents of DISH in that they are not being contaminated, as previously stated by Former Mayor Calvin Tillman.

The Tillmans paid $139,000 for their house on 2.86 acres in 2003, according to Denton Central Appraisal District records, and an unknown amount for an adjoining 3.21 acres in 2005. The appraisal district valued the two properties in 2010 at $136,675. The house has been sold.