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ALA CDOW Medano

Produced Water Consortium

Colorado has recently developed a Produced Water Consortium with the intent to address produced water challenges. The consortium will provide an informed path for the utilization of this water resource inside, and potentially outside, of the oilfield in Colorado. 

Produced water refers to the water that is extracted from underground formations and brought to the surface during the process of oil and gas production. Effective 2025, the produced water rules at ECMC require a statewide reduction in the percentage of fresh water used for oil and gas operations — and a corresponding increase in usage of recycled produced water.
 

About the Colorado Produced Water Consortium (CPWC):

The Consortium is housed under the Department of Natural Resources' Executive Director's Office. It aims to bring state and federal agencies, research institutions and institutes of higher education, affected and interested NGO’s, local government, affected industries and others together to encourage the reuse and recycling of produced water and address barriers associated with utilization of produced water. The CPWC will provide an informed path for the utilization of this water resource inside, and potentially outside, of the oilfield in Colorado. The outcome of this effort will build upon produced water consortium efforts nationally (e.g., New Mexico and Texas Produced Water Consortiums) and will identify and address critical scientific, legislative and regulatory knowledge gaps needed to develop policies that are protective of public health, welfare, safety, the environment and wildlife resources in Colorado. Additionally, these policies will provide a path for the oil and gas industry to recycle their produced water inside the oilfield, while exploring the potential extent of safely reusing produced water outside the oilfield. This consortium is tasked with the following:

  • Solicit input from the consortium and provide recommendations to state agencies and the legislature on how state and federal agencies can better coordinate regulatory policies in regards to produced water.
  • Conduct, participate in and sponsor studies, pilot programs, analysis and other research associated with produced water.
  • Through analysis and research provide recommendations to state agencies and the legislature appropriate short and long term produced water reuse and recycling goals.
  • Provide recommendations to state agencies and the legislature necessary rulemakings and legislation that would remove barriers to reuse and recycling of produced water in the state of Colorado.
  • Report to state agencies and the legislature on topics related to produced water.
  • Participate in relevant state agency rulemaking in regards to produced water.

All meeting dates, agendas, and meeting materials can be found on the DNR Produced Water Consortium webpage.

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