Water resources and their sustainability are increasingly under threat in several parts of the world due to scarcity and to the added complication of climate change. The preservation and optimal use of water should therefore be made a priority across all domestic, industrial, and commercial sectors and countries to avoid shortages and potential future conflicts. In this context, funding for development and/or closure of mining projects, which often have an impact on water resources, are increasingly dependent on Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) principles to encourage companies to act responsibly.
The rapid growth of ESG investment funds in recent years is revolutionising current water use and environmental regulations worldwide, and mining companies may encounter constraints on mine water management practices that are perceived as counter to the principle of preservation of water resources. In this context, to pre-empt further changes in water use regulation, a question arises regarding the use of evaporation ponds as a water management tool at mine sites - Are evaporation ponds an appropriate strategy for managing excess water at mine sites, or do evaporation ponds waste water and should alternative strategies or technologies be considered?
This paper examines the use of evaporation ponds in mining projects from the following perspectives:
- The various contexts in which evaporation ponds are utilized.
- Current regulations and permitting of evaporation ponds in various parts of the world.
- Potential environmental and social effects of evaporation ponds and related studies.
- Potential alternatives to evaporation ponds considering their effects, technical feasibility, and cost.
