New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission Adopts Rule on the Discharge of Produced Water
June 2, 2026
New Mexico, being one of the leading oil states in the United States, has been working to address concerns regarding produced water. According to the New Mexico Environmental Department, for every 42 gallons of oil produces there is a corresponding 168 to 252 gallons of water produced. This year, New Mexico lawmakers have been trying to address growing concerns about the
disposal of produced water’s impact on the environment and human health balanced with the ever growing need to conserve water as water resources become more and more scarce.
In May of 2025, the New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC) adopted a rule that prohibited the
discharge of produced waters to New Mexico’s ground and surface water. This action includes the prohibition of
“pilot projects” resulting in a complete ban on the discharge of produced water. This rule is set to sunset in
five years meaning that the topic will naturally arise again in 2028.