Overview

• Texas is considering new permits for discharging treated oilfield wastewater into rivers, with applications pending for the Pecos River and other areas.
• Environmental advocates express concerns over the introduction of pollutants like PFAS and radioactive materials into natural water sources.
• Regulatory bodies face challenges in setting safety standards due to limited data on the toxicity of many constituents found in produced water.
• Some companies claim their treatment processes make wastewater safe for discharge, but the adequacy of these methods is under scrutiny.
• Efforts to reuse produced water are seen as a response to decreasing disposal options and increasing water shortages in Texas.