The Produced Water Society is a global organization dedicated exclusively to advancing the understanding and management of produced water. Since its founding, PWS has served as a trusted forum for education, technical exchange, and professional connection. Through conferences, publications, and ongoing programs, the Society brings together experienced practitioners and emerging leaders to share knowledge, explore solutions, and address evolving challenges. By fostering collaboration and informed dialogue, PWS plays a vital role in supporting responsible produced water practices and driving progress across the energy and water management landscape.
We are a collection of industry professionals with a common mission to improve the management and disposition of produced water, through the facilitation and exchange of technical knowledge.
A future where produced water is managed responsibly, efficiently, and collaboratively across our industry and communities.
To educate, connect, and empower the produced water community through open dialogue, shared expertise, and accessible resources.
Stronger technical understanding, informed decision-making, and meaningful progress in produced water management worldwide.
The Produced Water Society began as a small group of industry professionals coming together to address a shared challenge: how to better treat and manage produced water. Led by Colin Tyrie, the group met for the first time in 1990 to openly discuss the technical issues they were encountering in water treatment, production, and disposal. These early meetings created space for candid conversation, problem-solving, and the exchange of real-world experience.
As participation grew, the group evolved from informal discussions into organized annual seminars where practitioners presented technical papers detailing the challenges they faced, the solutions they pursued, and the data they gathered along the way. Just as importantly, they shared what did not work. Through this open exchange of successes and failures, participants recognized that collaboration accelerated progress not just for individual operations, but for the entire field of produced water management.
Interest in the meetings spread quickly, and a broader community began to take shape. In 1999, the Produced Water Society was formally incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the industry on one of the most critical yet often overlooked components of oil and gas operations: water management. Under Mr. Tyrie’s leadership, the Annual Seminar expanded into a three-day program of technical presentations, each day concluding with in-depth question and answer sessions that encouraged rigorous discussion and practical learning.
In 2015, Mr. Tyrie announced his retirement, and Global Water Intelligence assumed responsibility for the Society’s day-to-day operations. In recognition of Mr. Tyrie’s lasting contributions and advocacy, the Society established the Colin Tyrie Scholarship, which supports university students pursuing academic research in produced water management.
Over time, the Society’s scope has continued to grow. While early discussions focused primarily on produced water disposal, PWS has expanded its attention to include water treatment, handling, and management across oil and gas operations worldwide. This evolution was reflected in the launch of regionally focused events beginning in 2017, including conferences in Midland, Texas, and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. These regional meetings have continued to expand as water management has become an increasingly central focus across the global energy industry.
Throughout its history, the Produced Water Society has remained grounded in a simple but powerful belief: that better information and shared understanding lead to better outcomes. By fostering collaboration among practitioners, researchers, regulators, and solution providers, PWS has helped advance the field of produced water management for more than three decades. As the Society looks ahead, it remains committed to supporting informed decision-making, technical excellence, and continued progress for the industry it serves.
The Produced Water Society is guided by a Board of Directors comprised of experienced professionals from across the produced water and energy sectors. Board members are nominated and approved based on demonstrated leadership, technical expertise, and commitment to PWS.
Representing a broad range of technical, operational, regulatory, and academic perspectives, the Board provides strategic oversight, governance, and guidance for the Society’s conferences, programs, and initiatives. Through active engagement, industry representation, and partnership development, Board members help ensure PWS remains a trusted forum for education, collaboration, and the advancement of best practices. Their collective expertise plays a critical role in shaping the future of produced water management and supporting the Society’s mission.
PWS is led by industry professionals dedicated to collaboration, education, and meaningful progress in produced water management.
