This story was originally co-published by Undark Magazine and the Santa Fe Reporter. This year, the New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission held a hearing in Santa Fe to seek public input on regulating wastewater discharge from the oil and gas industry. The hearing dealt a blow to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s proposal to reuse water for alternative energy development. Under the proposal, announced at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference and called the “Strategic Water Supply,” the state planned to purchase natural brackish and oilfield-produced water, treat it through private companies, and provide it to green industries such as solar, wind energy, and electric vehicle manufacturing.
The $500 million investment aimed to strengthen climate resiliency and protect freshwater resources. However, the majority of the public opposed any discharge of produced water, citing concerns over toxicity and contamination. New Mexico Water Quality Control Commissioner Katie Zemlick expressed worries about interacting with ground or surface water without reliable data on the chemicals in the water. Environmental and Indigenous activists labeled the proposal a “false solution” that benefits the oil and gas industry.
During the 2024 legislative session, a bill to fund the project failed to gain support and died in committee. Despite this setback, the New Mexico Environment Department collected information on treatment and reuse of produced water in preparation for accepting proposals. Mike Hightower of the New Mexico Produced Water Research Consortium reassured that produced water can be safely treated and used.
New Mexico is central to this debate due to the prolific Permian Basin, which produces high volumes of oil and wastewater. The federal Clean Water Act allows states to regulate water reuse in western states. While other states have approved reuse of produced water for various purposes, New Mexico’s proposal for green energy development faced challenges.
Produced water contains a mix of substances, including naturally occurring metals, chemicals used in drilling, and unknown proprietary chemicals. Treatment processes are required to remove these components before reuse. Experts emphasize the need for thorough testing and monitoring to ensure the safety of treated produced water for human health and the environment.
While the EPA provides advisory support to state consortiums working on regulations, more federal oversight is suggested to address the complexity and potential risks associated with produced water. With ongoing efforts to study treatment and reuse methods, the debate over the use of produced water from oil and gas operations continues.
