With climate change posing a serious and immediate risk to the quality and quantity of a mine's water resource, a water stewardship programme can help a mine build resilience in relation to its water use and discharge, according to mining consultancy SRK Consulting principal environmental geologist Lindsay Shand.
With South Africa's growing demand for water, and the impact of climate change on rainfall variability and water supply security, the need for a systematic approach to water stewardship in mining has never been more significant, she notes.
''A primary risk of climate change is access to fresh water. In recent years, drought, floods and other water-related risks have threatened the sustainability of businesses, demanding a strategic and systemic approach to managing water needs and sources,'' says Shand.
However, many of the systemic water risks businesses face cannot be sufficiently solved through company measures alone, requiring the assistance of an independent consultancy.
