"California environmental groups filed a lawsuit on Thursday that seeks to halt oil industry injections of drilling wastewater into nearly 500 wells, a practice they say threatens fresh water supplies and is particularly critical in light of a prolonged drought.

The lawsuit was filed in state court against California's oil drilling regulator, the Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR), by the Center for Biological Diversity, the Sierra Club and Earthjustice.

Oil drilling in California produces far more water than oil, most of which is not suitable for drinking. The wastewater is typically injected back underground."

Rory Carroll reports for Reuters May 7, 2015. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Environmental Groups Sue State Oil And Gas Regulators" (AP) [3]

"Groups Sue To Keep Oil Waste Out of State’s Aquifers" (San Francisco Chronicle) [4]