New Mexico as a testbed for safe beneficial produced water reuse

Produced water is a large waste product associated with the production of oil and gas. It is often either disposed of or partially reused in hydraulic fracturing. If treated properly, this waste product could be used as a non-potable water source in arid regions to lessen the strain on freshwater resources. Across basins, produced water contains different levels of salinity and different potentially toxic constituents. New Mexico is one state in the Intermountain-West that is projected to have water scarcity issues due to increases in evapotranspiration and changes in precipitation, leading to a general increase in aridity. Additionally, New Mexico has a significant and increasing flow of produced water, totaling 2.3 billion barrels in 2023. With this increase in both aridity and produced water, there is active rulemaking around the reuse of produced water outside the oil and gas industry. The combination of these factors makes New Mexico a good candidate as a testbed for beneficial produced water reuse in the United States. This study evaluates the feasibility of produced water reuse in New Mexico, investigating reuse options through the lenses of policy and environmental impacts. Key findings include the suitability of hydrogen production and mineral extraction subject to targeted treatment strategies and continued regulatory adjustments.