October 21, 2022

Unchecked Oil and Gas Wastewater Threatens California Groundwater

Unchecked Oil and Gas Wastewater Threatens California Groundwater

October 21, 2022


Unchecked Oil and Gas Wastewater Threatens California Groundwater

California is the only US state that still allows untreated oil and gas “produced water” to be dumped into unlined pits.  This article details increasing evidence that produced water toxins are showing up in drinking water, including benzene levels that are 45x California’s legal limit.  In total, the state produces 3bn barrels of produced water a year, adding to an existing 16 billion barrels of previously disposed water that continues to “percolate" into groundwater.  EcoVAP operates a large facility in California, but in the mining sector (see Case Studies), and hopes to similarly dewater >95% of produced water.


Article:


https://insideclimatenews.org/news/24102021/california-oil-wastewater-produced-water-drought-groundwater-contamination/

Latest News

Produced Water Pipelines Also Carry High Environmental Risks, Prompting New Mexico to New Laws
March 2021
For large volumes of wastewater and/or longer distances, piping to injection wells is usually preferred to trucking for both economic and environmental reasons (i.e., less trucking CO2, traffic).
Califorina Imposing First Statewide Rules for Winery Wastewater
March 2021
Califorina’s Wine Industry is a $74bn business, including 3,600 wineries which produce 2-8 gallons of wastewater for every gallon of wine, with the largest wineries producing up to 500,000gpd.
Water-Related Comments from Biden Presidential Platform
January 2021
The article below includes water-specific excerpts from the Biden presidential platform, particularly as related to wastewater disposal environmental issues.
WASHINGTON POST
MARCH 2021
Army Corps denies permit for massive gold mine proposed near Bristol Bay in Alaska
WASHINGTON POST
MARCH 2021
Army Corps denies permit for massive gold mine proposed near Bristol Bay in Alaska
WASHINGTON POST
MARCH 2021
Army Corps denies permit for massive gold mine proposed near Bristol Bay in Alaska
WASHINGTON POST
MARCH 2021
Army Corps denies permit for massive gold mine proposed near Bristol Bay in Alaska
WASHINGTON POST
MARCH 2021
Army Corps denies permit for massive gold mine proposed near Bristol Bay in Alaska
WASHINGTON POST
MARCH 2021
Army Corps denies permit for massive gold mine proposed near Bristol Bay in Alaska