BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The Central Valley Water Regional Quality Control Board says they have issued a cease and desist to oil field wastewater disposal center, Valley Water Management Company for failing to comply with water regulations.
In a news release, the board said they're requiring Valley Water Management to either bring its McKittrick facilities into compliance with water quality regulations or stop discharging wastewater at the facility.
According to officials, Valley Water disposes of poor-quality produced water from the South Belridge, Cymric, and McKittrick oil fields at the Facility. The facility reportedly has 163 acres of unlined disposal ponds where, according to the company’s recent reporting, 2.8 million gallons of produced water are discharged each day.
The board also said that if Valley Water cannot show that its discharges at the facility are not causing pollution, they require the company to either upgrade its facility or stop discharging produced water.
A statement from Executive Officer of the Central Valley Water Board, Patrick Pulupa said:
“Valley Water provides a valuable service to the oil industry in Kern County, but discharges from the McKittrick facility must not put groundwater beneficial uses at risk." “With this Cease and Desist Order (CDO), the Board has said that if this facility cannot be brought into compliance with current regulations, discharges at the facility must cease.”
