Frank Holden has lived in his Preble residence since 1998, but never knew he had natural gas from Marcellus Shale was in his water until 2015 when he was having his water softener installed. 

Able to do the unexpected with his water, Holden can fill up a milk jug halfway from his kitchen sink, shake it for a couple of seconds, and light the water on fire. 

Holden doesn't drink the water until it is purified and has to shower in as short a time as possible so he doesn't get the natural gas on his skin. 

Finding out back in 2015, Holden has been living in fear for nearly a decade now. 

"It scared me. I had all these nightmares about houses blowing up and people getting sick from this stuff and I wake up in the morning and my house smells like a mechanic shop," Holden said. 

It's not just him living in fear, but also his loved one's as well, including his daughter who is moving in with him in the near future. 

“My daughter comes here a lot and she is going to move in to help me with the bills," Holden said. "They smoke her and her boyfriend. I have told them, 'do not throw cigarettes on the ground'.”

Reporting this issue back in 2019 to New York State, Holden still has not been provided proper help with this issue. 

Walter Hang, President of Ithaca-based Toxics Targeting, learned about Holden's situation when he was researching the DEC's spill database. Hang is now trying to get the state to take action.

"He could asphyxiate if the natural gas accumulated in his home. He could be sleeping and never wake up," Hang said. "In, addition, you can see in his yard there is some kind of seep coming out of the hillside."

Hang has written to the state and Governor Kathy Hochul, calling for the state to see the situation themselves and provide proper help, which could include changes to state fracking regulations. 

"We're writing Governor Hochul and saying you've got to prohibit all forms of fracking with water in any amount. Carbon dioxide gel, propane. There can't be any shale fracking," Hang said.