OPINION: Produced water is safe

New Mexico has made the right decision by allowing the reuse of so-called “produced water.” To clear up a common misconception, produced water is simply the water naturally present in underground formations alongside hydrocarbons. It is not fracking fluid or flowback water from hydraulic fracturing, which is largely recovered within weeks and often reused for subsequent fracking operations. Given the increasing strain on our water resources, including persistent drought conditions, we should apply the same “all of the above” approach to water as we do to energy.

Water is part of a fixed system on Earth. The water we use today is the same water that existed during the time of the dinosaurs, circulating through natural cycles over millions of years. Oil and gas reservoirs do not exist in isolation — the water found with oil has been present for geological ages, long before human activity. The key questions we should be asking about any water source are: 1) Is the water available where it is needed? 2) What is its value after treatment? 3) What is the cost of treatment, including any waste byproducts?

Water recycling can occur slowly — by reinjecting it into underground aquifers to let nature filter it — or rapidly, with the right technology and investment. Industries such as mining, agriculture, oil and gas, and manufacturing have long weighed the tradeoff between cost and value when it comes to recycling water. Produced water is no different.

New Mexico is not unique in this challenge. Around the world, produced water has been treated and reused for agriculture, industrial operations, and even municipal water supplies. Colorado has already enacted laws and policies to ensure produced water is recycled and reused. In Kern County, California, a region responsible for a significant portion of the nation’s produce, recycled produced water has irrigated crops for over 30 years under strict oversight from the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. Advances in technology and engineering now allow for the economical treatment of virtually any water source.

Of course, produced water contains naturally occurring elements that must be addressed through treatment. The critical question is: to what level should it be treated? The answer depends on its intended use. Environmentalists, myself included, advocate for a “fit for purpose” approach — treating water to the standard necessary for its specific use. For instance, groundwater used for irrigation does not need to meet drinking water standards. The EPA recognizes this distinction and has established contaminant guidelines tailored to different applications.

In my professional experience and through my volunteer work with the Southwest Water Advocates Network, I have encountered numerous misconceptions and politically motivated claims regarding recycled produced water, including in these very pages. However, these arguments often stem from a lack of understanding or a desire to push a particular agenda.

Let’s prioritize science and rational decision-making. New Mexico has an opportunity to be a leader in water stewardship by embracing all available sources — including produced water — to ensure a sustainable future for our state.

John R Grizz Deal is CEO of IX Water Facilitator and a volunteer with the Southwest Water Advocates Network