In West Texas, companies like Texas Pacific Water Resources are proposing to treat and discharge oilfield wastewater, known as “produced water,” into the Pecos River instead of using traditional underground injection methods.
This shift is driven by the need to find alternatives following earthquakes associated with wastewater injection wells. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is currently evaluating applications for discharges and setting new regulatory standards due to the unique composition of produced water, which includes various toxic substances. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has limited federal guidelines for such discharges, leaving states like Texas to manage their own standards.
The Texas Produced Water Consortium, involving stakeholders from academia, industry, and non-profits, is researching the impacts and possibilities of reusing produced water. This effort underscores the complex balance required between advancing industrial practices and protecting water resources and public health.
