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Discovery Channel
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When engineers drill deep below the Earth's surface to access the hot rocks needed for an engineered geothermal system (EGS), they necessarily cause little earthquakes below the surface. The natural seismic activity (movement of the rocks) of an area is monitored before choosing a site for drilling. Then the scope of seismic activity is continually monitored during the drilling process. There is a risk of causing a major earthquake, but this has not yet happened.
An EGS also uses a lot of water. Because an EGS is built where there is no natural geothermal reservoir, a considerable amount of water is needed. It takes roughly 2 million gallons (7.6 million liters) of water to push open the cracks of the hot rocks. This can lower the water table. There is also a risk of water pollution; as the water moves through the rocks, it picks up some of their mineral content, including possibly arsenic or other toxic substances.
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