(Denver) — The Colorado Department of Natural Resources celebrates the progress of the Colorado Produced Water Consortium (Consortium), a legislatively created coalition that continues to bring together a wide range of voices, ideas, and scientific data to shape policy around produced water reuse in the state. On July 1, the Consortium completed and submitted the final of nine data-driven reports to the Colorado Legislature. With the Consortium's updated strategic plan and the Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC)’s recently adopted produced water rules now in place, Colorado remains at the forefront of informed, collaboratively produced water policy development.
“I want to thank the members of the Colorado Produced Water Consortium for their collaborative approach to meeting the requirements of legislation to research the use and reuse of produced water and for their key role informing the adoption of new produced water rules at ECMC," said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources.
Colorado has made history with the ECMC’s first-in-the-nation produced water rules, which were informed by the Consortium’s work. These groundbreaking rules require industry to use an increasing percentage of recycled produced water in oil and gas operations. The Consortium will evaluate the implementation of those rules annually to help ensure Colorado continues to meet the goals of reducing fresh water usage in oil and gas activities.
“It is special to see a group of individuals with such a diverse set of backgrounds and expertise be able to work together in a way that values and listens to each other's voices and perspectives,” said John Messner, Consortium Chair and ECMC Commissioner. “This approach to the work of the Colorado Produced Water Consortium, guided by the leadership of Director Hope Dalton and supported by staff from a number of state agencies, created an ideal platform for the volume and quality of work that has been accomplished to date. I am proud to have been a part of the effort and look forward to what the Consortium accomplishes as it moves forward into the future.”
The Consortium was established as a neutral platform to connect diverse stakeholders, including representatives from government, industry, public health, environmental groups, and academia, to share data and expertise. This year’s update to the Consortium strategic plan reaffirms the group’s commitment to transparency, data driven work, science-based analysis, and collaboration. It also charts a clear path forward while remaining grounded in data and diverse community input.
“This monumental accomplishment was only possible because of the tireless effort and collaboration of people from diverse backgrounds—scientists, regulators, operators, and community leaders—each bringing their unique perspective to build a policy that is balanced, informed, and future-focused,” said Michelina Paulek of The Energy Council and Consortium Member.
“The accomplishments of the Colorado Produced Water Consortium are monumental since the mandatory use of recycled produced water will help limit the need for fresh water, enforce more sustainable water management strategies, and set a precedent for other states in the Arid West,” said Thomas Borch, professor in Colorado State University’s Department of Soil and Crop Sciences with a joint appointment in the Department of Chemistry and Consortium Member.
“As Colorado continues to face drought conditions, good water stewardship is important. Recycling produced water in oil and gas operations helps manage this essential resource. The Consortium has worked to bring together our collective insights into identifying challenges and proposing equitable ways to save fresh water. As we begin to obtain more data, we look forward to providing guidance for industry and state authorities to ensure rapid progress towards protecting water quality and quantity for Colorado,” said Irene Andress, Sierra Club and Consortium Member.
“I am very honored to be a member of the Colorado Produced Water Consortium and proud of the group’s accomplishments since its inception. This consortium demonstrates the strength of a diverse, passionate, and knowledgeable community who can come together and respectfully discuss and debate various topics and ensure that all voices in the room are being heard. This strength has allowed the Consortium to meet the deliverables established by the Colorado Legislature to date and to be fully prepared for those yet to come,” said Rick McCurdy, Select Water Solutions and Consortium Member.
As the Consortium enters its next phase, it will continue to evaluate the implementation of the new ECMC rules requiring produced water reuse, facilitate open dialogue and expert reviews across diverse communities, elevate scientific findings and environmental justice considerations, and ensure that legislative and regulatory decisions are informed by rigorous data and broad engagement.
"After years of hard work by community members and the deliberations of the Consortium members, it is an important step for Colorado to require the use of recycled produced water in oil and gas operations. Much work remains to leverage this momentum and to significantly reduce the amount of freshwater used in operations. I am counting on the ECMC to make these recommendations meaningful and provide clear enforcement mechanisms. We need to build a solid foundation on which to continue our work to protect and preserve our critical water resources," Dr. Barbara Vasquez, Western Colorado Alliance and Consortium Member said.
Colorado’s work on produced water serves as a model for collaboration and innovation. By championing inclusive, data-driven policymaking, the Consortium hopes to continue to strengthen the state’s leadership in produced water management.
About the Colorado Produced Water Consortium:
The Colorado Produced Water Consortium, established by HB23-1242 in the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, consists of individuals with expertise in produced water related to oil and gas operations, environmental impacts, environmental justice concerns, and community perspectives. The primary goal of the Consortium is to reduce the use of fresh water and increase the recycling of produced water in oil and gas operations.