A pump jack near Imperial, Texas, in the Permian shale basin. Oil wells in the basin produce millions of barrels of wastewater.
Photographer: Mark Felix/BloombergToxic Water From Texas Oil Production Is Set to Be Treated and Pumped into Rivers
State environmental regulators are evaluating applications from four companies to release treated Permian Basin wastewater into the Pecos River
Texas is about to deploy a potential solution to the oil industry’s toxic wastewater problem — but it’s a move that carries environmental risks of its own.
State regulators are working to issue permits that would let four companies, including major landowner Texas Pacific Land Corp. and pipeline operator NGL Energy Partners LP, release treated wastewater from the Permian Basin into the Pecos River near New Mexico, regulatory filings show. At least one could be granted as soon as the first quarter of 2026, according to Texas Pacific.