New Mexico rejects plan to release treated fracking wastewater

The New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission rejected a proposal that would have allowed pilot projects testing water purification methods to discharge over 80,000 gallons of treated fracking wastewater daily into state waters. The reason is a lack of safeguards to prevent the pollution of the state’s water resources. This treated wastewater is generally known as “produced water”, and it is generated from oil and gas operations. It contains toxic substances such as arsenic and benzene, which could severely contaminate water sources.
As oil and gas drills expand, especially in states like New Mexico and Texas, managing treated wastewater is becoming an urgent public issue. Proposals to clean and reuse it for agricultural or industrial purposes are attractive for regions facing severe water shortages provoked by climate change. However, the lack of regulatory oversight and scientific certainty increases the risk of contaminating drinking water supplies and ecosystems, with severe consequences for rural communities and public health.