H.R. 9861House118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

TREAT Water Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 7:37 PM UTC

The TREAT Water Act amends the Energy Act of 2020 to require the Secretary of Energy to create a demonstration program that tests on‑site treatment of produced water from oil and natural‑gas drilling. The program is aimed at advancing new treatment methods and reducing environmental impacts, and it involves coordination with other federal agencies. It primarily affects the oil and gas industry and the federal agencies that oversee energy and environmental regulation.

Key Provisions

Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a demonstration program for on‑site treatment of produced water.
Prioritizes first‑of‑a‑kind or new treatment approaches and technologies that also reduce other environmental harms at oil and gas sites.
Requires the Secretary to consult with the Department of the Interior, EPA, and other relevant federal agencies when setting up the program.
Defines “produced water” as water generated as a byproduct of drilling and fracturing oil or natural‑gas wells.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Science, Space, and Technology Committee

September 27, 2024

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

September 27, 2024

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Science, Space, and Technology Committee

September 27, 2024

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Introduced in HouseIssued September 27, 2024

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 9861

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 27, 2024

Ms. Caraveo (for herself and Mr. Fitzpatrick) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

A BILL

To amend the Energy Act of 2020 to direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a demonstration program for on-site treatment of produced water, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the TREAT Water Act or the Transitioning Research to Ensure Appropriate Treatment of Water Act.

Produced water demonstration program

Section 4008 of the Energy Act of 2020 (42 U.S.C. 10310) is amended by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (f) and inserting after subsection (c) the following:

(d)

Produced water demonstration program

(1)

Establishment

In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall establish a demonstration program for on-site treatment of produced water.

(2)

Prioritization

In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall prioritize—

(A)

first-of-a-kind or new approaches to treating produced water at natural gas or oil development sites; and

(B)

technologies that can be used at natural gas or oil development sites to reduce other environmental harm.

(3)

Consultation

In establishing the demonstration program under this subsection, the Secretary shall consult with the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, including the Department of the Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency.

(e)

Produced water defined

In this section, the term produced water means water produced as a byproduct of drilling and fracturing oil or natural gas wells.