As competition for water in Texas grows, some state leaders are pointing to produced water from the Permian Basin. Produced water comes up during oil drilling, with an average of six barrels of water for every barrel of oil. State Sen. Charles Perry said that adds up to about 26 million barrels of water a day. Untreated, the water contains contaminants that make it unusable. Perry said produced water can contain 100,000 to 200,000 parts per million of total dissolved solids, compared with about 500 parts for drinkable water.
Traditionally, the water has been disposed of by injecting it underground. Perry said forced injection has created seismic activity, and that some earthquakes are being traced to oil and gas operations. He also said that within a year or two, many areas may no longer have suitable underground space for injection.
Perry, who chairs the Senate Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs Committee, said lab tests show the water can be cleaned. He said tests on crops have shown no harmful buildup in soil so far, and he expects it to become a viable crop water source in less than five years. Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian said he wants the Legislature to clear the regulatory path for industrial reuse, saying permitting is the biggest delay and cost increase. Perry said inconsistent industrial permits need to be fixed.