Texas lawmakers are advancing a bill allowing treated oilfield wastewater to be reused in rivers and for agriculture, but only if companies are protected from liability. Environmentalists warn that science is lacking in backing the move.
If lawmakers in Texas agree to protect oil companies from legal trouble, a new bill plan could let them dump treated wastewater from fracking into rivers and farmlands.
Rep. Drew Darby (R-San Angelo) is the author of House Bill 49. This bill would protect oil and gas companies, water treatment companies, and landowners legally when they deliver treated "produced water" for use. The goal is to improve Texas's slim water supply without stopping private companies from investing in recycling technology.
Texas is under more and more pressure to find new water sources because of climate change, population growth, and infrastructure that is getting old. Produced water is the salty, chemical-filled wastewater that comes from oil. Since 2021, the state has paid for a study into this water. Up to five barrels of created water are made for every barrel of oil taken out of the ground in West Texas.
Darby told lawmakers that the bill eliminates a significant problem: the fear of lawsuits. He said, "This gives businesses the peace of mind they need." Companies would only be responsible if they were careless or broke the law.
The water could supplement local supplies, say oil companies that have started trying different ways to treat it. But they want formal guarantees before they grow their business. Mr. Michael Lozano of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association said, "If we don't get this right, we lose millions of barrels of water that could be useful everyday."
Environmentalists are unsure about it. Nichole Saunders, a senior attorney at the Environmental Defense Fund, says the state doesn't fully understand the complex chemical makeup of the water. "We're making decisions about regulations with only some information," she said.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has received four requests for permits to start releasing cleaned water, but no final approvals have been given yet.
If the bill is passed, it will change how Texas handles waste from oil fields and how far it is willing to go to solve its water problem.
