About Us

Hosted by New Mexico State University (NMSU) in partnership with the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), the New Mexico Produced Water Research Consortium (NMPWRC) brings together universities, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private industry to advance science-based research that supports the safe, responsible, and sustainable management of produced water from oil and gas operations. Through collaborative research and innovation, New Mexico is emerging as a national leader in produced water treatment and reuse. In an arid state where every drop of water matters, this work has the potential to support long-term water security by exploring new, non-potable water supplies that reduce pressure on freshwater resources.

Our Mission

The mission of the NMPWRC is to convene academia, government, industry, and other stakeholders to collaboratively generate high-quality, transparent, and policy-relevant research that supports the safe, responsible, and sustainable management of produced water in New Mexico. The Consortium serves as a neutral scientific platform to evaluate emerging technologies, assess environmental and human health considerations, and inform science-based regulation—without advocating for or developing specific rules.

Operation Plan

 

Our Goals

As per the Memorandum of Understanding between the New Mexico Environment Department and New Mexico State University, "the NMPWRC will build capacity and support advanced produced water research aimed at enhancing the contribution of “fit-for-purpose” science and technology in three strategic program areas: (1) produced water characterization: physical, chemical, microbiological, and environmental toxicity analysis; (2) technology development, deployment, and commercialization; and (3) economics, policy, and regulations."
The Consortium's mission is advanced through the following core goals:

1.  Fill Scientific and Technical Gaps: Address gaps in data and understanding related to produced water characterization, treatment performance, monitoring methods, and environmental and human health impacts. 

2.  Support Science-Based Regulation: Generate credible, transparent, and peer-reviewed research that informs regulatory and policy decisions under the Produced Water Act, without developing or advocating for specific rules.

3. Advance Technology Development and Evaluation: Evaluate emerging and existing produced water treatment technologies, including pilot- and demonstration-scale applications, to assess performance, scalability, readiness, and implementation considerations across a range of potential fit-for-purpose reuse applications.

4.  Evaluate Economic Feasibility and Implementation Considerations: Examine high-level economic, infrastructure, and operational factors associated with produced water management, treatment, and reuse pathways to support informed decision-making by regulators and stakeholders.

5. Protect Water Resources and Human Health: Ensure that potential uses of treated produced water do not adversely impact surface water, groundwater, soils, ecosystems, or public health.

 

Goals and Objectives