In western Texas, especially the podium, the old oil wells were the leakage of contaminated water for decades, threatening the groundwater supply in the region and public health. In 2023, legislators launched a 10 million dollar program to address the problem, but qualified provinces are still waiting for money.
What is happening?
Among the vast arid West Texas desert, abandoned oil wells known as landscapes are affected, creating an environmental danger when toxic pollutants intersect to the surface. according to Texas TribuneThese or orphan oil wells are called P-13 wells, and there are likely to be thousands of documented that need to be delivered.
Over the past hundred years, the oil companies wandered around the scene of liquid gold, and when the wells appeared empty, the ownership was transferred to the landowners who used them for water. But many of them have not been closed or preserved properly, creating a recipe for an environmental disaster.
For example, in the Becus Province, Lake Bouheer, which has an area of 60 acres, has emerged from a former oil well that started leaking salty water decades ago. The leaks did not stop, and The Tribune reported that it became a toxic nightmare, as the lake launching dangerous hydrogen sulfide gas and heavy metals such as arsenic.
Legionships have established a grant program to solve the problem, and money must be distributed this summer after the Texas Committee for the Environment completes the process of setting the rules. But critics say that the money will not be sufficient to fix the problem, because the treatment of Behek Bouimer alone may cost millions.
“There will be no easy solution,” Hook Denlab, a well -controlled control specialist, told the Tribune. “Each well will be very specific to how it is treated, and in my professional opinion it will be almost like a blind.”
Why do oil wells leak?
The leaked oil wells constitute great risks to local groundwater supply because oil and other pollutants can leak into water services in the nearby cities and farms. Residents who rely on well water may be forced to find alternatives, such as bottled water, which increases the cost of living.
It is also dangerous for cattle who drink contaminated water. Grist mentioned The Schuyler WIGHT, a farm outside Midland, has lost many livestock-thousands of dollars-to leak P-13 wells at home. He also spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to clean the environmental damage that the wells left because the Texas Railways Committee will not help.
Tribune noticed that the agency does not provide funding for the delivery of P-13 wells because it is no longer considered oil wells. This decision has led to lawsuits filed by areas to preserve groundwater and many complaints from environmental defenders.
“It is crazy, because these are some of the most intense pollutions we have in the state at the present time, and they only choose not to make it its problem,” Virginia Palacius, Executive Director of the Environmental Control Authority.
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What is done to help?
While rural communities are waiting for money from TCEQ, Texas received $ 80 million from federal funding to connect orphan oil wells last January. However, this does not include P-13 wells.
Carbon Credit Companyweells travels all over the country to connect abandoned oil and gas wells and has many planned projects in West Texas.
If you want to help, consider searching if you have old oil wells in your area and Contact local officials About cleaning efforts. Your voice is important, and you can make a major change in your community’s health.
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