In Texas, where water is a scarce and valuable resource, the push to treat and reuse oil & gas wastewater is gaining momentum. Often called "produced water" by stakeholders, oil & gas wastewater is a toxic byproduct of hydraulic fracturing that requires serious scrutiny before being repurposed for any use outside the oil and gas industry. While some propose treatment and reuse as a potential solution to water scarcity, the reality is that we know too little about the risks to fully get behind that idea.
What We Know About Oil & Gas Wastewater
Despite its branding as "produced water," this wastewater is anything but new - or clean. It is highly saline - sometimes up to ten times saltier than ocean water - and contains a mix of heavy metals, organic and inorganic compounds, and even radioactive materials. With Texas generating an estimated 12 million barrels of oil & gas wastewater daily (mostly from the Permian Basin), and that number projected to grow to 15 million barrels per day in the next two decades, its management is an increasingly urgent issue.
Historically, this wastewater has been disposed of through deep underground injection, a practice now linked to increased seismic activity, including earthquakes. In an attempt to address the growing concern, the Texas Legislature established the Texas Produced Water Consortium at Texas Tech University (of which the Sierra Club is an active member) to explore potential beneficial reuse solutions. However, significant gaps in research remain, leaving more questions than answers about the feasibility and safety of repurposing this wastewater.
The Challenges of Wastewater Treatment and Reuse
The treatment of oil & gas wastewater is not only complex but also incredibly expensive. Current estimates suggest that treating it for reuse costs approximately $15,100 per acre-foot. Even more concerning, there is no clear understanding of the long-term environmental and public health impacts associated with using treated oil & gas wastewater.
Currently, six applications are pending before the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for discharging treated oil & gas wastewater into surface water bodies within the Pecos River Watershed. However, Texas Surface Water Quality Standards do not yet include criteria for these discharges, meaning there are no established safeguards to protect our water from contamination.
Adding to the problem, there is no comprehensive database to track how much oil & gas wastewater is being generated or how it is being disposed of. Without this critical data, effective regulation and management of this toxic byproduct remains a challenge.
Common-Sense Solutions to Protect Texas Water
To protect Texans and our environment, we must adopt responsible policies that prioritize public health and water quality. The following solutions would provide necessary safeguards:
- Maximize wastewater recycling within the oil and gas sector, reducing both environmental and public health risks while alleviating the industry’s demand for fresh water.
- Prohibit the discharge and reuse of treated oil & gas wastewater outside the oil and gas field until thorough research confirms that these practices are safe and environmentally sound.
- Continue funding research to fully understand the risks and benefits of treatment and reuse.
- Establish a statewide database to track oil & gas wastewater volumes and disposal methods, ensuring transparency and accountability in the industry.
Texas cannot afford to rush into oil & gas wastewater reuse without conclusive scientific research and strong regulatory safeguards. While addressing water scarcity is essential, we must ensure that our solutions do not create new environmental and health hazards in the process. The risks of improperly managed oil & gas wastewater are too great to ignore, and our water - and our communities - deserve better.