This year’s seminar was abuzz with the term “beneficial reuse,” signifying that the concept is gaining traction. We’ve known for a long time that it is technically possible to treat produced water and reuse it outside of the oil & gas industry as we do with other wastewater streams, but in most places certain hurdles – the economics of advanced treatment, public and regulatory resistance – have rendered beneficial reuse impractical. With the industry now facing a wave of produced water and restrictions on disposal options, beneficial reuse could be a great solution, especially in water stressed areas like the Permian Basin of New Mexico and Texas, or California’s Central Valley. Representatives from academia, federal and state governments, and the private sector all seemed enthusiastic about the possibilities.