Oil and gas industry has a water problem, and EPA wants to help
The EPA is proposing updates to its decades-old regulations on “produced water” from oil and gas extraction, aiming to enable treatment and reuse for purposes like power generation, industrial cooling and irrigation, especially in arid oil-producing regions such as Texas and New Mexico, while maintaining protections for water quality under the Clean Water Act. Proponents highlight the potential to reduce disposal costs, alleviate drought stress and support energy infrastructure, whereas critics remain concerned about high treatment expenses, possible chemical contaminants like PFAS and gaps in safety oversight.
