Shifting Mine Water from a Removal Problem to a Resource Stream

The three pillars that help mines lower water costs and increase water security for operations.

Mining is incredibly water intensive, a dependency that collides with constrained supply and rising costs. Almost two-thirds of mines face serious water-related risks, according to the International Council on Mining and Metals, with depletion and cost being key issues.

Yet, mines cannot forgo water. The alternative is to expand water from a removal challenge to a resource stream, says Chetan Mistry, Xylem’s Strategy and Marketing Manager – WSS (Africa, Middle East, Turkey, India).

“Mines increasingly recognise the need to improve water sustainability and strengthen water resilience. They need control over water, and that means looking at it as a strategic resource that they cultivate and protect. Progress toward this goal can be accelerated through a combination of water strategy, appropriate technologies, and targeted investment. Motivating this shift is pragmatic, as it appears at the intersection of environmental compliance, resource conservation, and operational cost control.”

Water as a resource, rests on three interconnected pillars: water stewardship, water recycling, and energy efficiency, creating a circular and resource-efficient industrial model. 

Advancing water stewardship

Water is a shared resource. Water stewardship links a mine’s reliance on water with the world it operates in and is the baseline for treating water as a strategic resource.

Yet, according to the United Nations, only 38 percent of industrial wastewater is reported as treated, and only 27 percent as safely treated. While these figures apply across industrial sectors, mining operations can benefit significantly from stronger water stewardship and wastewater management practices.

They create those roles by increasing water quality tracking across its full cycle. They consider frameworks such as the Mineral Council’s best-practice guidelines, work with local communities and regulators, and fold water risk (scarcity, flooding, regulatory tightening) into enterprise risk assessments.

Water reuse strategies

Water recycling operationally turns water into a strategic resource, producing measurable outcomes. Mines can focus on reuse hierarchies, using high-quality water for the most sensitive processes first, then reusing treated water for less-demanding applications.

Water reuse/recycling should express a mine’s water priorities. Should a mine recycle water for cooling, dust suppression, or other purposes? Is it to produce water suitable for drinking or perhaps to reduce moisture in stockpiles? Is the goal to reach safe and compliant environmental discharge?

The potential benefits can be significant. Many mines have improved water efficiency and strengthened water security through greater water recirculation and closed-loop approaches where operationally feasible. For example, Pan African Resources used water recycling to decrease water consumption by 10.9% and reduce municipal water reliance by 45.6%. 

Energy-efficient treatment 

Most mines know that improving water management is strategically beneficial, yet the cost of water treatment often dulls those intentions. But there are two important considerations here: water costs are rising, and water treatment options have become very efficient.

Water scarcity is increasing costs and lead to restrictions on water use in some regions, exposing mines to operational and supply risks. 65.7% of mining and metals facilities are in areas facing significant water stress, and 27% are exposed to high drought risks, according to the International Council on Mining and Metals. 

Water treatment technologies can help reduce exposure to water-related risks, while many modern solutions are designed with energy efficiency in mind. For example, sites can optimise energy-hungry activities such as aeration and pumping with suitable design and equipment choices, like variable-speed pumps. Other technologies, such as smart monitoring, provide operational data that can help users better understand consumption patterns, identify bottlenecks, support maintenance planning, and improve decision-making.

Start the water resource conversation

A mine’s goals can centre on protecting freshwater, reusing water, and cutting treatment energy usage. In those ways, mines can turn water into a strategic resource they control. 

It requires adaptable strategies and investments, but many operations have demonstrated meaningful operational, environmental, and water security benefits. Just as a mine mulls the quality of its ore and plans where it drills for new mineral stockpiles, water can become ‌part of its resource consideration, turning a risk-laden cost into leverage.

Electra Mining Africa 2026 is the ideal opportunity to see what systems and partners can turn water into a resource. Visit water technology leader Xylem at its stand (Zone 5, Stand H18), chat to its experts, and see modern water treatment equipment up close. Then decide where your operations can start using water in a way that supports resilience, sustainability, and a healthy bottom line.