Photos: Fracking unlined pits

An aerial view of pits containing production water from oil wells . (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Feb. 26, 2015 8:11 PM PT

Hundreds of illicit pits holding wastewater from oil production have been discovered in Kern County.

Clean Water Action program manager Andrew Grinberg on a pipe moving production water from oil wells. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

A pit containing wastewater from oil production. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Aerial view of pits containing wastewater from oil production. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)