New Mexico considers reuse of oil and gas wastewater amid safety concerns

New Mexico regulators propose reusing treated oil and gas wastewater in industrial processes but prohibit its discharge into rivers due to safety concerns.

Martha Pskowski reports for Inside Climate News.

In short:

New Mexico generates billions of gallons of toxic wastewater annually from oil and gas drilling, currently injected underground or transported to Texas for disposal.
Proposed rules allow treated wastewater reuse in industry but prohibit river discharges, citing insufficient safety data.
Environmental advocates worry about risks, while industry groups argue the rules are too restrictive compared to other states.

Key quote:

“The scientific research that would allow us to protectively permit treated produced water discharge simply does not exist.”

— Andrew Knight, NMED assistant general counsel

Why this matters:

New Mexico faces severe water shortages and must explore alternatives to traditional water sources. Safe reuse of treated wastewater could provide a new water supply but poses potential environmental and public health risks.

insideclimatenews.org

New Mexico considers reuse of oil and gas wastewater amid safety concerns

UVA Health University Medical Center earns two national environmental excellence awards

Big trouble from little wetlands

Summer heat could be hurting your heart without you knowing it

Boston, Army Corps propose $10 billion plan to defend city from rising seas

Extreme heat is eroding health, productivity and incomes of Dhaka's informal workers

Obeying speed limits would save 57,000 tons of carbon a day

How Big Oil spent decades selling the myth of ‘clean’ natural gas

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.