Water – a precious resource

Water is a precious resource that needs to be protected and managed to enable the smooth running of any mining operation.

In mines, where mineral extraction processes rely heavily on water, effective water management is essential. Polypipe provides plastic pipe systems for a variety of gravity and pressurised applications, which provide solutions to a number of mining processes, including transport infrastructure, water delivery and distribution, de-watering and storage, processing, water treatment, as well as welfare infrastructure.

A resource that needs to be protected

The use of water is essential for the effective operation of any mine. It is therefore of paramount importance to protect this valuable resource, to enable:

• The process of recovering valuable minerals from the host rock

• The protection of local water courses and the wider environment

• The delivery of clean water for the welfare infrastructure of the mine and surrounding communities.

A resource that needs to be managed

The detrimental impacts of the mismanagement of water are:

• Cost increase

• Production disruption

• Transport disruption

The top three water risks that pose a significant constraint to business operation, revenue and expenditure are:

• Increased water stress

• Flooding

• Declining water quality
 

Managed properly by introducing effective drainage, storage, treatment and transportation, water can be repurposed and used as a valuable resource for mining operations. Current global demand for water is at the level of 4,500 billion m³ a year and is expected to rise to 6,900 billion m³ by 2030. 70% of water use is agricultural, with industrial accounting for 22% of its use and residential use representing 8%.