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The World of Water in Mining
H.C. Laurie Reemeyer, Jessica Kinal
Resourceful Paths
ABSTRACT: Water is a crucial input for mining operations and is used for various purposes. Water is a more
complex utility than energy as both quantity and quality attributes must be considered. Competition for water
supply and environmental effects of mining on water resources have the potential to create tensions between
Indigenous groups, local and regional communities, and industry, leading to political instability if not properly
managed.
Mining operations often need to consider various water sources, which may have their own regulated or per-
mitted quantities and qualities, may come at considerable cost, require major energy inputs, and may have
significant environmental impacts for extraction, treatment and conveyance. Mines also need to carefully man-
age the interaction of process affected waters or waters contacting mine waste materials to avoid pollution of
surrounding water resources. How mining companies deal with fresh water is often the main concern of the
community at large.
Water quality can have a major impact on metallurgical performance, depending on the processes used.
In a world increasingly facing water related risks from climate change, it is essential that the mining industry
takes a holistic approach to how it uses, treats and manages water. These include considering how water issues
affect decisions on mine and flowsheet design and the configuration of site infrastructure, as well as designing
robust water supply and treatment facilities that leverage beneficial use opportunities for regional stakehold-
ers and Indigenous groups. Effective, interdisciplinary collaboration is essential to achieve sustainable water in
mining outcomes.
INTRODUCTION
Water is an essential ingredient in mining and processing of
minerals and metals. Without it, virtually all mineral pro-
duction would be impossible (Kunz et al, 2017). However,
the mining industry must recognize that for many com-
munities and Indigenous groups, water invokes passion-
ate feelings due to its association with life and livelihood.
If not properly managed, water issues can lead to strong
opposition to mining and threaten access to resources. This
is exacerbated by climate change, which is both increas-
ing uncertainty about availability of water for industrial
and competing water uses and elevating risks associated
with flooding and fires, which can damage mine facilities
and lead to major environmental incidents. There are two
aspects of water that invoke concerns—firstly that mines
will make large regional water withdrawals, and secondly
that mines will pollute water, hence either making water
unavailable or unusable for essential community needs.
Water has multiple uses in the mining value chain,
including transportation, suspension, separation, washing,
reaction, dust suppression, cooling, housekeeping, safety,
rehabilitation and human consumption. Mines must
The World of Water in Mining
H.C. Laurie Reemeyer, Jessica Kinal
Resourceful Paths
ABSTRACT: Water is a crucial input for mining operations and is used for various purposes. Water is a more
complex utility than energy as both quantity and quality attributes must be considered. Competition for water
supply and environmental effects of mining on water resources have the potential to create tensions between
Indigenous groups, local and regional communities, and industry, leading to political instability if not properly
managed.
Mining operations often need to consider various water sources, which may have their own regulated or per-
mitted quantities and qualities, may come at considerable cost, require major energy inputs, and may have
significant environmental impacts for extraction, treatment and conveyance. Mines also need to carefully man-
age the interaction of process affected waters or waters contacting mine waste materials to avoid pollution of
surrounding water resources. How mining companies deal with fresh water is often the main concern of the
community at large.
Water quality can have a major impact on metallurgical performance, depending on the processes used.
In a world increasingly facing water related risks from climate change, it is essential that the mining industry
takes a holistic approach to how it uses, treats and manages water. These include considering how water issues
affect decisions on mine and flowsheet design and the configuration of site infrastructure, as well as designing
robust water supply and treatment facilities that leverage beneficial use opportunities for regional stakehold-
ers and Indigenous groups. Effective, interdisciplinary collaboration is essential to achieve sustainable water in
mining outcomes.
INTRODUCTION
Water is an essential ingredient in mining and processing of
minerals and metals. Without it, virtually all mineral pro-
duction would be impossible (Kunz et al, 2017). However,
the mining industry must recognize that for many com-
munities and Indigenous groups, water invokes passion-
ate feelings due to its association with life and livelihood.
If not properly managed, water issues can lead to strong
opposition to mining and threaten access to resources. This
is exacerbated by climate change, which is both increas-
ing uncertainty about availability of water for industrial
and competing water uses and elevating risks associated
with flooding and fires, which can damage mine facilities
and lead to major environmental incidents. There are two
aspects of water that invoke concerns—firstly that mines
will make large regional water withdrawals, and secondly
that mines will pollute water, hence either making water
unavailable or unusable for essential community needs.
Water has multiple uses in the mining value chain,
including transportation, suspension, separation, washing,
reaction, dust suppression, cooling, housekeeping, safety,
rehabilitation and human consumption. Mines must