Hearing on expanding water reuse to continue in July

May 20—It'll be a while longer before New Mexico officials decide if the state should allow for broader water reuse, including for wastewater that's a byproduct of oil and gas extraction.

The state's Water Quality Control Commission started a hearing last week on a proposal from the New Mexico Environment Department to expand how companies can treat and recycle water.

The commission scheduled the hearing for last week, but extended it so more experts and witnesses could testify. Many environmental advocates have concerns about the rule.

The hearing will resume later this summer on July 1.

Environmental advocates have been particularly concerned about the potential for expanding produced water reuse.

Produced water is wastewater that comes to the surface when oil and gas operators extract the resources from the ground. It's not safe to drink or reuse the water.

Currently, oil and gas companies treat the byproduct and pump it back into the ground. The Environment Department wants to allow other treated produced water reuse options, with no discharge into surface or groundwater.

A hearing considering NMED's proposal is ongoing at the state's Water Quality Control Commission, an entity affiliated with the New Mexico Environment Department that adopts water regulations and standards.

It could continue into August, Environment Department spokesperson George Estrada said, to hear all testimony and allow for cross-examination.

He said it's unknown how long the Water Quality Control Commission will deliberate the matter before ruling, though a decision won't come down immediately after the hearing.

At the same time, the Environment Department is preparing another rule for more reuse, including direct and indirect potable reuse, Estrada said.