NMPWRC August Webinar | Beneficial Use of Highly Treated Produced Water for Ecological Restoration

​Beneficial Use of Highly Treated Produced Water for Ecological Restoration

​featuring

​Dr. Sybill Sharvelle

​Produced water from oil and gas operations can be highly treated for beneficial uses such as irrigation, surface water discharge, and ecological restoration. In Colorado, where operators are required to restore sites to pre-drilling conditions, treated produced water offers a sustainable option for habitat restoration through native vegetation and constructed wetlands. These wetlands also provide the added benefit of further polishing the water while restoring nutrients and alkalinity. Researchers at Colorado State University's Water Technology Accelerator Platform (TAP) are evaluating these approaches through greenhouse studies, soil column experiments, and laboratory-scale wetland systems. The research will provide science-based data to support regulatory decision-making and the safe, sustainable reuse of produced water for ecological restoration.

​Dr. Sybil Sharvelle is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Colorado State University and a founding member of the One Water Solutions Institute. Her research focuses on fit-for-purpose water systems and the beneficial reuse of alternative water sources, including treated wastewater, stormwater, graywater, and produced water. She has led projects funded by the Water Research Foundation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Science Foundation. Dr. Sharvelle also serves as Technical Director of Colorado State University's Water Technology Accelerator Platform (TAP), where emerging water treatment technologies are evaluate dusing a variety of water sources.