This invention discloses a process and apparatus for removing usable water and other components from drilling mud/waste mixtures containing water, solids, hydrocarbons and dissolved salt. Solids are separated from waste water resulting in recovery of a water stream containing hydrocarbons and dissolved salts. This stream is then separated into a recoverable hydrocarbon stream and a water stream containing dissolved salts. A reverse osmosis means is then utilized for separating the water stream containing dissolved salts into a permeate stream of environmentally safe water for reuse and a concentrated brine stream.