Drilling wastewater could be used on crops

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Jul 10, 2015

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Drilling wastewater could be used on crops

Big Oil uses billions of gallons of water every year to help pump crude oil out of the ground. But in the near future, much of that water could be treated and used to grow crops.

385757 05: Night comes to the Hogan, left, and Houchin oil and gas platform near the Federal Ecological Reserve in the Santa Barbara Channel, February 16, 2001, near Santa Barbara, CA. In recent months the state Coastal Commission has argued against the federal government in its lawsuit over offshore oil exploration, a case that could lead to more drilling near a marine sanctuary or leave up to 1 billion barrels of oil untapped. The tourism-heavy area relies on its coast to attract visitors and has been sensitive to oil drilling since a 3.3 million gallon spill from a platform in 1969 spawned an anti-drilling movement. (Photo by David McNew/Newsmakers)

Big Oil uses billions of gallons of water every year to help pump crude oil out of the ground. But in the near future, much of that water could be treated and used to grow crops.

With demand for water outstripping supply in the West, people are looking wherever they can find it.

In some cases, it doesn't matter whether it's clean and new or, like a sweater at Goodwill, gently used.

Enter Big Oil.

The industry uses billions of gallons of water every year to help pump crude oil out of the ground.

But in the near future, much of that water could be treated and used to grow crops.

Alex Nussbaum, energy reporter for Bloomberg Business, explains how that water is treated and if it's safe to use on the lettuce that might be in your next salad.