PESCO inc. has been manufacturing oil and gas field products in Farmington for the last 50 years, and now they have partnered with New Mexico Tech to bring New Mexican made water purification technology to not only energy producers across the state, but Navajo Nation communities in need. PESCO has been working with NM Tech for a number of years and now is ready to bring the groundbreaking new product to commercial production scale.
Developed and Manufactured in New Mexico, the product uses bundles of polymer “straws” the width of a human hair to filter out contaminants. “I like the idea of something home grown in the state that can have a positive impact here, across the U.S. and around the world,” said Robert Balch, Director of the Petroleum Recovery Research Center on his visit to PESCO. The new technology’s brilliance is its ability to benefit not only the oil and gas industry in cleaning and repurposing produced water, but to bring potable water to many parts of the nation. In his address to members of NM Tech, Balch said the goal in the partnership with PESCO is “also to give something back to the community in the form of six or so of these water units for use out in Navajo Nation and other tribes.” The technology could be used to treat water from marginal or poor water wells on the Navajo Nation, which would increase access to drinking water.
Navajo Nation Vice President Myron Lizer, who spoke at a ceremony held at PESCO, said the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on Navajo communities, and 36% of Navajo Nation residents do not have direct access to potable water. “You all are going to be part of the solution that helps bring water to the great Navajo Nation,” Lizer told the workers. Read more HERE