The equitable and sustainable use of water (water stewardship) is one of the key challenges facing mining companies around the world, and one that touches upon many aspects of environmental social and governance (ESG) performance. In areas of water scarcity, reliable and sustainable access to a suitable supply of water is critical, not just for mining companies but all local water users, whether for communities, agriculture, or other applications. Meanwhile, commitments to positively support local ecosystems and nature-positive outcomes place additional demands on water priorities.
Against this background, mining companies are committing to reduce their water consumption and improve their water recycling and reuse metrics. There is a business imperative here: reliable access to water of suitable quality is frequently identified as a key risk to the continuity of mining operations. But companies also recognize that water is an essential communal resource and are committed to its equitable and sustainable use by all of the catchment stakeholders.
This is a complex undertaking. Water stewardship investments must be balanced against financial costs and other objectives, such as decarbonization, net zero and energy use targets. In addressing this challenge with WSP’s mining clients, we have found the best solutions are developed through a holistic and collaborative approach. Forming a multidisciplinary team of technical experts, operational staff and project stakeholders, we brainstorm potential opportunities and are able to innovate solutions drawing on different areas of expertise. Identified opportunities can then be evaluated at a high level and developed through to concept level engineering and costing to allow evaluation of the options on a cost per megalitre saved basis, alongside other local and project-specific priorities.
A particular benefit of this multidisciplinary approach is seen when identifying potential technologies and solutions for delivering water savings. Because these will encompass the integrated expertise of all stakeholders, the result is a more comprehensive assessment than could otherwise be achieved and that moves beyond the typical approach of interrogating the water balance. Results will certainly include technologies that are widely known, such as evaporative covers or dewatered tailings. But novel options will also rise to the surface, like replacement of pump gland seal water with mechanical seals, as seen in the oil and gas industry.
The ultimate outcome is a well-documented, defensible and inclusive plan for targeted investment in water stewardship programmes at the site or across a portfolio of sites. This is an incredibly powerful tool for the operator, bringing transparency to decision making, with key stakeholders clearly able to see why certain projects are prioritised over others. These key decisions can then feed into both corporate target setting and reporting.
There is little doubt that mining and mineral processing operations will require an increasingly proactive approach to water stewardship, including a focused approach to water savings, to meet ESG targets and mitigate water-related risks. We have seen the benefit of close collaboration between a mining company’s technical teams, multidisciplinary consultancy teams, and engagement with all relevant stakeholders, to develop a comprehensive and integrated assessment of solutions. Such an approach offers the potential to expedite the mining industry’s ability to meet their ESG commitments while promoting transparency and trust with stakeholders, advancing water stewardship priorities, and of course saving water.
For more on this topic, read the associated case study as presented at the International Mine Water Association Conference: ‘ESG & Mine Water: A Procedural Approach to Support Setting Water Savings Targets in the Mining Sector’.
