Mines have long endeavoured to reduce their water use and will come under more pressure to use less water as competition grows with other water users. However, a sustainable approach to water management goes beyond the mine site and incorporates the surrounding communities. This approach becomes both more demanding and more rewarding as more people in the area will become sustainable water users.
Securing water supply should certainly be among the priorities of any forward-thinking mine. according to Peter Shepherd, Partner and Principal Hydrologist at SRK Consulting. This is not just because a changing climate will render certain regions drier than before. "There are some mining areas that will become more
drought-prone, placing the onus on mines to use less water and design fitter-purpose infrastructure to store water optimally," says Shepherd. "However, mines also exist within a natural and social ecosystem, and will increasingly compete with other users who share their water catchment. This means that engagement and collaboration become important aspects of water management.“
