WATER MANAGEMENT
Inside view of a delivered Weeefiner 4D Scavenger ® Container
A handle on H2O
From advanced water treatment solutions to water stewardship , Paul Moore looks at a range of approaches and technologies in mine water management
Mine water management , including the management of water in tailings , is a core issue in the drive by mining companies to achieve greater sustainability – and is also a major factor in mining ’ s social licence to operate . Rio Tinto states : “ Water is a shared resource critical to sustaining biodiversity , people and economic prosperity . Increasingly disrupted weather patterns and more extreme weather events due to climate change , and a growing world population , mean efficiently managing water is more important than ever .”
It continues : “ The way we think about water , and manage associated risks , reflects the diversity of our operations and geographic locations . A small proportion of our assets operate in water-scarce regions , while others must remove excess water to allow safe mining operations . These are examples of the many potential risks we manage across the life cycle of our diverse operations . We share water with the communities and nature surrounding our operations , so we aim to avoid permanent impacts on water resources , including lakes , streams and groundwater aquifers , by carefully managing the quality and quantity of the water we use and return to the environment . This means balancing the needs of our operations with those of local communities and local ecosystems . We do this while considering the impact of climate change , already felt in the level of rainfall and water security at some of our operations .”
To address this complexity , Rio Tinto adopts a catchment-level approach to developing potential solutions and managing the risks and impacts within our operations . It uses 2030 water stress as determined by the World Resources Institute to identify operational catchments of most concern .
Plus as ICMM members , it reports its water practices against the commitments outlined in the ICMM water stewardship statement : to apply strong and transparent water governance ; to
manage water at operations effectively ; and to collaborate to achieve responsible and sustainable water use .
Benckmarking to improve water management practices
A recent presentation by SRK Consulting Senior
Consultant Noah Levin discusses mine water efficiency improvement . To help mines assess and improve their water management practices , SRK Consulting has developed a comprehensive database and benchmarking tool .
Levin : “ In 2020 , investors highlighted water scarcity as one of the largest increasing risks to the mining and metals sector they expected to face by 2025 . With 2025 now here , water scarcity is not only a pressing environmental issue , but an operational challenge for the mining industry , which requires a reliable water supply to create salable product from ore . The impact to bottom line is significant .”
In response to these challenges , the International Council of Mining and Metals ( ICMM ) introduced its Water Stewardship Framework in 2017 . This framework urges mining
companies to improve water management practices , focusing on increasing water recycling ,
reducing withdrawals , and using lower-quality water where possible . Since then , most ICMM members have committed to these goals , with sustainability reports showcasing significant efforts to enhance water efficiency .
Levin states : “ However , achieving water efficiency is not one-size-fits-all . Every mining operation is unique , facing specific water challenges based on location , geology , and operational needs . Some sites may not be recycling water efficiency , while a site recycling water at a high rate may benefit more from making its processing plant more efficient . An operation relying on high-quality groundwater might have access to lower-quality surface water , which could offset freshwater usage . Mines in water-surplus regions may focus less on reuse and more on managing excess water to avoid environmental and operational risks .”
He argues that understanding how your operation ranks in water management compared to similar mines allows you to pinpoint the most impactful areas for improvement .
To help mines assess and improve their water management practices , SRK Consulting has developed a comprehensive database and benchmarking tool . This tool evaluates key water management metrics across the industry , leveraging widely recognised ICMM and GRI water accounting standards . The key metrics in the benchmarking tool include : n Water Withdrawals : How much water is brought on to site for operational usage . n Recycle / Reuse Rate : How much water is used more than once for operational usage . n Water Discharged : How much water is released to the environment . n Other Water Managed : Water that is managed on site but not actively used . n Water Consumed : How much water is lost to the environment through leaks , evaporation , or entrainment . n Water Replacement Ratio : The amount of water that is withdrawn and replenished to the environment . Each metric is broken down by water quality ( high or low ) and source ( surface water , groundwater , seawater , or third-party water ). This granular approach allows mines to compare their performance with others and identify specific areas for improvement .
Levin adds : “ A meaningful benchmark considers the unique characteristics of each operation . For example , an open-pit copper mine in a dry climate will have different needs than an underground gold mine in a tropical region . The SRK tool allows users to apply filters - such as mine type , location , climate , and processing methods - to ensure a like-for-like comparison .”
Levin considers an anonymous open-pit copper mine in Chile that withdraws 1.62 m 3 / t
International Mining | MARCH 2025