The growing appreciation of the environmental and cultural values ​​of Indigenous peoples is changing approaches to mine water management planning.

MELBOURNE, Australia, September 5, 2024–(BUSINESS WIRE)–New research from Black & Veatch, a global leader in critical infrastructure solutions, finds that sustainable water management is a priority for Australia’s mining sector.

In the survey, more than 80 percent of respondents indicated that sustainable water management is one of their organizations’ top sustainability priorities.

Ensuring sustainable use and supply of water and eliminating water pollution have been identified as issues that can be most easily addressed in the context of sustainable development.

“The impacts of unmanaged water issues could result in significant delays to project approvals, impact operational efficiency, cause flood damage to critical infrastructure, impact environmental and cultural values ​​associated with mining operations and result in future closure liabilities,” said Mick Scrivens, Vice President and Director, Black & Veatch, Australia Pacific.

“Prioritising a stewardship approach that uses integrated and sustainable water solutions will benefit the environment, local communities, mining companies and the industry as a whole,” Scrivens added.

Yet more than half of respondents were unsure whether their organisations had such sustainability commitments in place, with only 43 per cent confirming that their organisations had made commitments on water use.

These results highlight opportunities for mining companies to improve the effectiveness of how corporate water stewardship commitments translate into well-understood, actionable and effective actions on the ground.

Positive steps taken by regional and global mining companies over the years include replacing unsustainable groundwater resources with desalination sources, increasing emphasis on water recycling and initiatives to reduce water intensity and improving waste management practices.

“Over the past decade, the drivers of water management in the mining industry have shifted from meeting operational needs to delivering solutions that deliver real results in responsible water stewardship and sustainable practices,” said Garrick Field, Solutions Director, Industrial Water and Mining, Black & Veatch.

A full 98 per cent of respondents highlighted the importance of ensuring the cooperation and support of local communities and Indigenous people in the design of water conservation projects and initiatives, with half of them stating that such support was “extremely important”.

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Black & Veatch provides expertise and advice in life-cycle planning, design, construction, operations and consulting for water, wastewater and stormwater management to help industrial customers, such as mining and metals processing operators, access the water they need at the right price and quality, whenever and wherever it is needed.

For more information, please contact Black & Veatch.

Editor’s notes:

About Black & Veatch

Black & Veatch is a 100% employee-owned global engineering, procurement, consulting and construction firm with over 100 years of innovation in sustainable infrastructure. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people around the world by addressing the resilience and reliability of our most important infrastructure assets. Follow us on www.bv.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram.

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