Study finds local oil field wastewater safe for use in irrigation
Central Valley water-quality regulators released a final report Friday concluding oil field wastewater from central Kern County, when blended with other water sources, can safely be used to irrigate a variety of locally grown crops. The report, based on five years’ work and incomplete in some respects, found no evidence of risks to human health from watering tree nuts, citrus, berries, tubers and other ag products with the saline water that comes up from the ground along with oil and which contains small concentrations of toxic chemicals.
Related articles:
- CA Regional Water Quality Control Board: New research: On the reuse of oil field produced water for irrigation of food crops in central Kern County, California
- CA Water Boards: Food Safety Project White Paper: No elevated risk from food grown with oil field produced water