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Conservation StoriesAuthor: Sandhills Area Research Association
Conservation Stories chronicles the ongoing work of the Sandhills Area Research Association along with old and new friends in the agriculture space. Language: en Genres: Business, Education, Non-Profit Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Transforming Produced Water: A New Frontier in Water Sustainability with Mike Hightower
Episode 33
Friday, 31 January, 2025
In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims speaks with Mike Hightower, director of the New Mexico Produced Water Research Consortium, about the groundbreaking efforts to transform produced water— a byproduct of oil and gas extraction— into a valuable resource. Hightower explains the staggering volume of produced water generated in the Permian Basin and how research is leading the way in treating and reusing this water for agricultural, industrial, and potentially even municipal purposes. He outlines the scientific and regulatory steps taken to ensure safe treatment, the economic benefits of reusing produced water, and the innovative technologies being deployed, including thermal and membrane filtration methods. The conversation also explores the challenges of overcoming misconceptions about produced water, the potential for reducing seismic activity linked to deep-well injections, and the broader implications for water stewardship in arid regions like West Texas and Eastern New Mexico. Hightower emphasizes that responsible water management is not just about conservation—it's about using all available resources wisely to support economic development and long-term sustainability. Listeners will gain insight into how energy production and water management intersect and why this emerging field could play a crucial role in securing water for the future. More About Our Guest: Mike Hightower - Director of NM Produced Water Research Consortium New Mexico Produced Water Research Consortium Water Reuse Action Plan For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com Support the Conservation Stories Podcast Follow SARA for more updates • Instagram • Facebook • LinkedIn • X/Twitter Conservation Stories is presented by The Sandhills Area Research Association (SARA). Subscribe now to hear all the interviews. Upcoming Episodes Include: • Texas Senator Charles Perry • Stephen Hummel, Dark Skies Initiative Coordinator, McDonald Observatory / The University of Texas at Austin• Dr. Alyssa Whitcraft, Executive Director of NASA Acres and the former and co-founding Deputy Director for NASA Harvest
