Ensuring a constant supply of potable water is one of the fundamental environmental, social, and governance (ESG) requirements facing mining operators.
In addition to adhering to strict occupational health and safety standards, accessible rehydration measures must always be available for all employees on-site.
While the responsibility for providing drinking water ultimately falls to various mine team managers, it necessitates a high level of expertise and collaboration across multiple disciplines involved in running a mining operation.
First, any company sourcing groundwater must effectively protect the site from contaminants such as hazardous waste and soil impurities.
Second, a robust process for managing microbial pathogens, capable of causing serious illnesses, should be in place, as these microbes can lead to debilitating and potentially fatal diseases.
To ensure safe drinking water, miners should ideally have on-site membrane-based water treatment systems to purify contaminated groundwater. Additionally, there is the option to recycle waste or excess water generated as a by-product of mining activities.
According to the Western Australian government, contaminants that render drinking water unsafe include microorganisms (such as pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and parasites), dissolved minerals or chemicals like arsenic, cyanide, uranium, lead, and salts, as well as chemical residues from nearby mining, agricultural, and industrial activities.
Contamination can occur at various points: at the source (borefields, dams, streams, and rivers), within storage tanks (where nesting birds or decomposing animals can introduce problems), or during maintenance, when personnel and tools may taint pipes and filters.
Moreover, personal drinking containers, taps, and ice retrieval systems should be kept clean and free from unwanted bacteria.
Infrastructure failures can also lead to water contamination, such as back pressure from pumps, faulty plumbing, or cross-connections with sewage lines.
Elevated temperatures can promote bacterial growth, while soiled components such as tanks and taps can foster pathogen-hosting slime and algae.
Incorrect labelling of supply points and inadequate disinfection systems, including filters and chlorine dosing equipment, can further exacerbate the problem.
Common health issues stemming from contaminated drinking water include diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, loss of appetite, fever, fatigue, joint pain, dark urine, and skin irritations.
WA’s Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) said: “A person may experience one or more of these symptoms with mild to severe effects.
“Waterborne diseases can be serious, including cholera, typhoid, dysentery, hepatitis A, botulism, and parasitic infections such as giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis.
“Many of these diseases are highly contagious and can spread through person-to-person contact, contaminated food, or further consumption of tainted water.”
To effectively address these issues, DMIRS has continually reminded principal employees and managers of their responsibility to develop and implement a site- specific drinking water quality management plan.
This plan should outline procedures for protecting water sources, ensuring the integrity of all system components, and establishing routine inspections and monitoring to maintain a safe water supply.
Additionally, the strategy should specify actions to take when contamination is detected or personnel health is compromised.
“Following a contamination incident, the severity of outcomes depends on the toxicity of contaminants, their concentrations, and individual susceptibility,” DMIRS explained.
“Immediately notify the Department of Health if any indicator organism or contaminant exceeds water quality parameters defined by the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG).”
The Queensland government has also advised companies to compare their monitoring results with the ADWG and develop a trigger action response plan detailing controlled actions when elevated results are identified.
Such actions may include repeat testing, additional treatment, immediate isolation of potable water access points, and communication protocols for the workforce.
In case of interruptions to potable water, the QLD government emphasises the importance of an adequate secondary supply, such as bottled water or on-site delivery by tanker.
Mine managers should also ensure alternative arrangements for critical safety devices like eye wash stations.
Moreover, it is essential for workers to understand the health and aesthetic factors that can affect their drinking water quality.
Designing a treatment system for mine site drinking water involves several considerations, including feedwater sources, required product water quality, mine remoteness, the availability of trained personnel, and regulation-friendly disposal measures.
Another ESG strategy that miners could employ to ensure a continuous supply of drinking water is active communal participation, especially when nearby stakeholders are impacted by their operations.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests engaging with local watershed organisations or starting one if none exist.
“Discuss threats to water quality, such as polluted runoff and habitat loss, and highlight actions people can take to protect water quality, including limiting fertiliser use and eliminating herbicides and pesticides,” the EPA advises.
