The U.S. House of Representatives today passed a bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Mark Udall (D-Eldorado Springs) calling for research and development of ways that water from oil and gas production could be used for agricultural purposes and to alleviate drought conditions. H.R. 5110, The More Water and More Energy Act, passed the House unanimously and is backed by officials from the oil and gas industry and the Bush administration.

Produced water is the water generated during oil and gas production. The U.S. generates over five million gallons of produced water per day. While this water can be and is used for agricultural purposes, most often it is handled as a waste and reinjected. Given the increasing demand for fresh water supplies in the west, Udall said it makes sense to consider how this water could supplement our water resources.

"Developing beneficial uses for produced water could reduce costs of oil and gas development, while also easing demand for water by alleviating drought conditions in Colorado and the west and providing water for agriculture, industry, and other uses. Energy and water are two of our most important resources, so it makes sense to pursue ways to produce more of both," said Udall.

During the hearing, industry and administration officials testified that there is a need to explore ways in which produced water can be reused for beneficial purposes. Oil and gas industry officials pointed out that there is a lack of information on steps required to use this water and that H.R. 5110 establishes a collaborative effort to identify the obstacles in the development of this water resource and to provide research and demonstration plants to show how to overcome them in the future.

H.R. 5110 directs the Interior Secretary to carry out a study to identify the obstacles to increasing the extent to which produced water can be used. It authorizes $5 million in federal grants to assist in developing three pilot plants to demonstrate the feasibility, effectiveness and safety of processes in which produced water can be recovered and made suitable for use. One of the pilot plants could be built in Colorado, one would be in Arizona or Nevada and the other would be in California.