East Texas Aquifer Under Siege as Oil and Gas Waste Disposal Leaks Contaminate Drinking Water

The small East Texas town of Joaquin has been plagued by a series of oil and gas wells bursting into the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer, which supplies drinking water to homes and businesses in the area.

According to records from the Texas Railroad Commission, at least a dozen freshwater wells in the Joaquin area sprung leaks in August 2025, with some testing positive for contaminants like benzene, chlorides, and natural gas.

The problem is attributed to the proliferation of oil and gas waste disposal in Northeast Texas, driven by loose regulation and cheaper wastewater injection costs. Roughly 187,000 barrels a day of wastewater cross the state line from Louisiana into Texas, with much of it being injected underground near Joaquin.

Rural water system managers, like Sara Edwards, volunteer president of DeBerry Water Supply, are concerned about the potential for contamination to leach into their networks or private wells in areas where residents lack the funds to do testing.