Turning oil industry waste into water wealth in the desert
In West Texas and southeastern New Mexico, an emerging industry aims to solve the dual challenge of dwindling freshwater resources and the disposal of oil field wastewater by recycling it.
Amanda Drane reports for the Houston Chronicle.
In short:
- Pilot projects in the Permian Basin are testing technologies to purify oil production's chemical-laden wastewater for reuse, as Texas faces a growing freshwater shortage.
- The Texas Railroad Commission is tightening regulations on wastewater disposal to address earthquake concerns, pushing companies towards recycling efforts.
- Recycling efforts include using treated wastewater for irrigation and new fuel production, highlighting the urgency of addressing the water supply-demand gap and environmental concerns.
Key quote:
“I think within three years we’re going to see (recycling efforts) start exploding,”
— Mike Hightower, program director of the New Mexico Produced Water Consortium
Why this matters:
The balance between resource recovery and environmental protection remains a key point of discussion among scientists, policymakers, and the public. However, the practice is not without its critics. Concerns linger over the potential for residual contaminants to make their way into the food chain and impact human health, as well as the environment.
As courts stall or stop some major pipelines, the Permian Highway Pipeline in Texas is plowing ahead—and fears over water pollution have already become reality.
