The annual Oklahoma Governor’s Water Conference in Norman included updates on regional water plans, drought mitigation, and experts from other states sharing their water insights. But, Governor Mary Fallin came with a new idea to save water — and reduce earthquakes.
Fallin told the crowd Oklahoma’s oil and gas industry injected 1.5 billion barrels of wastewater from fracking into the ground last year, a process scientists have linked to the state’s earthquake swarm.
"So, today I want to announce the Water for 2060 Produced Water Working Group," says Fallin.
Water for 2060 refers to the goal of using less fresh water in 2060 than was used in 2010. The working group will look at how wastewater might be cleaned and used by industry or for crop irrigation.
"And I’m also, by the way, very equally interested in looking at alternatives to deep well disposal of water," says Fallin.
A press release from Fallin’s office says the group will be non-regulatory, and focused on identifying the barriers to reusing produced water.
