New Mexico Governor Proposes $500M Plan to Treat Oilfield Waste Water

The initiative aims to create a new water source for industrial applications, but faces skepticism over feasibility and salt disposal.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has proposed a plan to turn the waste water from oil and natural gas drilling into a new water source.
The plan involves setting water purification standards and purchasing treated water that originates from oil fields and the state's natural underground reservoirs of brine.
The governor has asked the Legislature to set aside $500 million to underwrite the acquisition of treated water. The funding would come from the state's bonding authority and financial reserves in the Severance Tax Permanent Fund.
The treated water would be made available to businesses ranging from microchip manufacturers to hydrogen fuel producers.
However, there is skepticism from some lawmakers and industry experts about the feasibility of scaling up water treatment and dealing with the large amounts of salt produced in the process.