Eric Selinger's family used to farm shrimp on their property along the Pecos River outside Imperial. But the aquaculture ponds have long lain empty. He sees a potential solution in produced water and is seeking business partners to treat it for irrigation on his land. Selinger hopes that repurposing produced water can reduce the volume injected underground, and in turn, the risk of blow-outs and earthquakes. "I've got the vision and I've got the piece of land," he said on a warm October afternoon.
The Railroad Commission of Texas, which regulates oil and gas waste, has two pilot projects to test the concept of utilizing produced water for irrigation. The Texas Produced Water Consortium, based at Texas Tech University, is running its own set of treatment pilots. The Texas legislature is expected to review the issue next year.
"I believe produced water in the next five years will be a viable supply alternative in some areas that need it," said state Sen. Charles Perry of Lubbock during a hearing of the Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs on September 3. "If . . . for nothing else [then in] the agricultural community."
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