Texas' three railroad commissioners say that oil and gas operators statewide are recycling more water than ever before, thanks to a change in state rules.
But exactly how much water is being conserved or reused during oil and gas production is unknown. That's particularly true for fracking -- a process by which oil and gas is extracted from rock by injecting high-pressure mixtures of water and other substances.
Commission Chairwoman Christi Craddick told members of two House committees Monday that her organization is dependent on companies to self-report that information. She added that there was no target set for water recycling when the rule was adopted in 2013.
But Craddick also maintained, "If companies are allowed to be innovative, they usually go above and beyond."
