November 2022 Newsletter

The annual WateReuse Texas (WRTX) conference brings together industry leaders in water reuse for education, conversation, and networking to promote the growing water reuse industry in Texas. The conference will include a reuse-related tour, networking reception, plenary sessions, and technical tracks on various reuse-related topics. 

Sponsorship and tabling opportunities are available - please contact Noelle George for more information.

Based on a recommendation from our policy committee, WateReuse Texas has signed on to an effort by Texas Water Conservation Association (TWCA) to petition the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for a rulemaking change. The petition addresses 30 TAC Chapter 210 and 30 TAC Chapter 321, Subchapter P. The amendments will enable building-scale treatment and reuse of wastewater (what we typically call onsite reuse) by eliminating the requirement that the owner of the reclaimed water treatment facility also be the owner of a wastewater treatment facility and have a TPDES or TLAP permit.  

Please contact Noelle George if you have any comments or concerns about this petition, or to join our policy committee. 

The Texas Produced Water Commission (TXPWC) has released their initial report which focused on the Permian Basin. Key findings include:  

• An estimated 250,000 –500,000 acre-ft per year of treated produced water could be available outside of oil and gas operations 
• No current facilities exist to treat produced water beyond the quality required for oil and gas operations, although this is being done in other states (CA, PA, etc.) 
• Existing technologies can effectively treat water of various quality levels, and the TXPWC recommends pilot project facilities to provide treated water samples for further analysis 
• Treating produced water for uses outside the oil and gas industry is not more economical than current disposal methods, but this will eventually be an economically viable option 

Produced water reuse is appearing more and more in the news. Emmy-nominated series Tomorrow's World Today recently aired a segment on the Discovery Channel about recycling and reusing produced water featuring NGL Energy Partners of Oklahoma. 

NEWS

Experts Recommend Reuse in Face of Texas’ Reliance on Surface Water
The Texas Tribune published a story exploring ways in which the long-term water planning processes in Texas have failed to account for climate change and rely too heavily on new reservoirs and surface water supplies. “Dams don’t make water,” says Samuel Sandoval Solís, a professor in water resources at the University of California Davis. Sandoval Solís argues for an increased focus on water reuse and water conservation in Texas. Read more. 
 
Texas Cities in Fear of Running Out of Water, Reuse Highlighted as Solution  
The Hill’s Dried Up series turned its focus to Texas’s weather instability. “You saw record dry conditions week after week after week,” said climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe about the Dallas region, “and then all of a sudden, a summer’s worth of rain in a single day.” Uneven precipitation, increased evaporation, and fast population growth are requiring local water agencies in the state to get creative. The article highlights water reuse as a solution to the challenge, including Austin Water’s On-site Water Reuse Pilot Project and direct potable reuse by Colorado River Municipal Water District in West Texas. Read more. 

Potable Reuse in Texas Featured in CNBC Article
Texas members City of Wichita Falls and El Paso Water Utilities were featured in a CNBC article that asks "What's in your drinking water? ...it might soon be recycled sewage". The title may sound concerning, but the article makes the case that DPR is a sound alternative water supply and that test runs can help with public perception. WRTX board member Christina Montoya, communications and marketing manager at El Paso, is quoted in the article as well as WateReuse executive director Pat Sinicropi. Read more. 
 
Reduce or Reuse? The Rio Grande Valley Considers Options  
Texas Public Radio published a story investigating whether communities like the City of Edcouch in the Rio Grande Valley region should invest in water reuse. The article weighs water reuse against other conservation and water loss prevention opportunities in the region including replacing canals with pipelines, noting that water reuse will likely be part of the long-term strategy for sustainability statewide. Read more. 

EVENTS

Save the Date! WateReuse Events and Deadlines to Note!

March 5-8, 2023: The Annual WateReuse Symposium is the premier conference on water recycling — attracting water professionals and water reuse practitioners globally for knowledge-sharing, networking, and collaboration! The event is planned in collaboration with The Water Research Foundation and will include engaging sessions on the latest reuse-related research projects. Learn more and register.

September 20-22, 2023: The 10th Annual WateReuse Texas Conference will be held in Frisco, Texas at the Hyatt Regency. Plans include a reuse-related tour, networking reception, and two days of exciting content. Sponsorship and tabling opportunities are limited, please contact Noelle George for more information. 

Noelle George, Managing Director
ngeorge@watereuse.org | (832) 619-9496