Texas oil and gas companies are beginning to consider using recycled wastewater in their fracking operations as droughts and agricultural use limit the state’s water supply, according to Dallas News.

When oil and gas are extracted from the ground through the fracking process, water is also brought up. A barrel or more of water is extracted for each barrel of oil or gas. Typically, fresh water is used for the process, but companies are considering the use of recycled wastewater to alleviate the strain of depleting fresh water sources.

From Dallas News:

“The infrastructure costs, in terms of pipelines and treatment equipment, are considerable. And they multiply exponentially when wells must be hooked in across other property, requiring negotiations over right of way. That essentially limits recycling to large companies that can afford to lease large blocks of land or own it already.”

Via: Dallas News > Fracking companies begin slow shift to recycling wastewater