OPERATIONS •
Stochastic modelling, using multiple simulated climate or rainfall scenarios, helps quantify risk in statistical terms. Mines can then weigh risk against capital costs and decide what level of security is financially acceptable.
“ This is where the water balance becomes a decision-support tool,” says Bruton.“ It helps mines evaluate the trade-off between infrastructure costs and operational risk.”
Water stewardship, smarter compliance With regulators, investors and financial institutions adopting stricter expectations around water use, mines are under growing pressure to demonstrate transparent and responsible water management. An accurate water balance is often central to these requirements.
“ Authorities expect detailed reports on how much water a mine is using across various categories, how efficiently the water is recycled and how responsibly wastewater is managed,” he explains.“ A calibrated water balance provides that level of valuable detail.”
Automated reporting systems derived from water balance models can feed daily, weekly or monthly dashboards for operational staff. These systems also support licensing, environmental authorisations and industry accreditation programmes, where water stewardship is becoming a prerequisite for maintaining social licence and investor confidence.
Improved efficiency, lower costs The financial benefits of water balances are significant. As climate change causes shifts to extreme rainfall events, the cost of storage infrastructure to contain these extreme events escalates. Additionally, a water tariff rise and energy-intensive pumping become more
Water balances play a pivotal role long before construction begins.
expensive, identifying opportunities for water reuse or reducing treatment volumes can translate directly into savings, Bruton notes.
“ A good water balance often pays for itself,” he says.“ By highlighting inefficiencies, modelling recycling scenarios or reducing the need for oversized storage, mines can save substantial amounts, not just on water, but on the electricity and infrastructure required to handle it.”
In many cases, water balances can highlight and test opportunities to incorporate lower-cost, nature-based solutions, says Bruton. These may include infiltration structures, flood retention basins or landscape-based dispersal systems that reduce reliance on costly traditional stormwater retention and storage structures. •
Source: supplied by SRK Consulting South Africa
www. africanmining. co. za African Mining Publication African Mining African Mining • March 2026 • 25