Water is New Mexico’s most precious resource. We must ensure it is conserved and utilized to the greatest extent and encourage innovative technologies that result in safe, responsible water reuse. As directed by the 2019 Produced Water Act, state officials are working diligently to create a framework for water reuse through the Water Quality Control Commission rulemaking.

All viable and safe options to address our declining water availability should be considered, including finding ways to safely use treated produced water. The oil and gas industry is truly one of the few industries capable of attaining “net positive” water balance by saving more fresh water than it uses. Achieving this is a win for all New Mexicans.

In New Mexico, oil and natural gas production uses less than 1 percent of the state’s annual freshwater consumption, while the vast majority of water continues to be consumed by individuals or other water-necessary industries.

Produced water is mostly naturally occurring, highly saline water brought to the surface as part of oil and gas production. Leading universities, like New Mexico State, New Mexico Tech, and Texas Tech, are on the forefront of treated produced water use research. Developments in water recycling technology show that high-quality water can be extracted from produced water for appropriate and regulated reuse. With additional treatment, the water can be cleaner than some natural river ecosystems.

Currently, produced water is injected back into deep subsurface formations as one of the few approved disposal methods. The reinjection of produced water can contribute to seismic events. Coupled with depleting water supplies, it is crucial to find ways to best utilize produced water.

Due to technological advancements, produced water could be used for industrial applications such as municipal landscaping, road construction, and irrigation for non-edible agriculture like cotton. To ensure its safe utilization in approved applications, the use of any produced water will be extensively tested and monitored to guarantee it meets stringent water-quality standards.

Every gallon of treated produced water used for irrigation or industrial uses frees up a gallon of native fresh water.

Concerns that the oil and gas industry introduces Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances – or PFAS – into its produced water are unwarranted. To be clear, the oil and gas industry is not a source of PFAS in produced water. A recent study by the U.S. Geological Survey found PFAS concentrations in the Pecos River near Artesia (upstream of oil and gas fields) averaged 15 nanograms per liter. Water from the Pecos River downstream of oil and gas fields had the same or lower levels. The trace amounts of PFAS found in the surface water are introduced before water reaches the Permian Basin. The study also found PFAS levels in the Pecos River were lower than samples taken from the Rio Grande south of Albuquerque.

We urge state officials to make data- and science-based decisions in the upcoming WQCC rulemaking hearing to ensure proper utilization of all our water resources, preserve our limited supply of fresh water for future generations, and enable economic diversification. To learn more about the rulemaking and treated produced water facts, we urge you to visit NM Environment Department, the WQCC, NMSU, NMT, and TTU sites to learn more the safe usage of produced water and its benefits to New Mexico’s future.

Missi Currier is a Carlsbad native, and President and CEO of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — On National Small Business Week, one New Mexico business is receiving recognition for its success.

The Albuquerque-based Triskelion Group took the top overall honor this week from the New Mexico office of the Small Business Administration.

Watch the video above to see how CEO Chris Sweetin and the staff have provided needed security services, grown the company to more than 80 employees and formed plans for further expansion.

“It has been a very big passion,” Sweetin said. “Every day is a new challenge, and we figure out how to fix it.”

“He’s seen substantial growth in his company. He’s a great example of a success story,” said John Garcia, district director for the New Mexico office of the Small Business Administration.

Garcia said New Mexico small businesses are “thriving.” Ones that survived the COVID-19 pandemic grew stronger, and there’s been a surge of new ones in the last few years.

“Because of the pandemic, they became very resilient. They bounced back. They created some new thoughts and new ideas,” Garcia said.

If anyone is running a business, or wants to, they can reach out to the Small Business Administration office for information and connections to resources – including for loans and access to capital.

When people think of New Mexico, you probably think of Roswell, the green chile peppers, or perhaps the show Breaking Bad. As someone who grew up watching police pursuits shows on tv like World’s Wildest Police Videos & Real TV, one of the first things that come to mind when thinking of New Mexico, is the iconic police pursuit involving a stolen car and a semi truck.

This crazy police pursuit took place in Albuquerque, New Mexico back in 1993.

The date is March 16, 1993 & the location is Bernalillo County/Albuquerque, New Mexico. Police were in hot pursuit of a stolen red car with 2 armed suspects inside. Realizing they needed help, the officer inside the car with the dashboard camera uses his radio to call any truck drivers ahead to offer some assistance. One truck driver hears the call, and offers to help by using his giant semi truck to help force the car off the road.

After a couple of minutes of avoiding the truck and by driving onto the other side of the highway, eventually the thieves gave up & pulled over. This allowed the officers to stop & arrest them. The best part of this whole story? The driver of the semi truck was actually a retired Sheriff’s Deputy from Alabama, so he’s had YEARS of experience stopping police pursuits.

The dashboard camera was uploaded onto YouTube in 2019; it has over 10 MILLION views (and has been featured in various blogs of the craziest police chases ever captured on video).All of which goes to show just how many people were amazed by this 30 year piece of police footage.

Now normally police don’t want people to get involved in police chases; there’s a good chance you can get hurt (or worse). But every so often, they do appreciate the help.

If you want to see more insane police dashcam footage, you can see the story of the Texas psychic cop here.