Water Stewardship

Advancing Sustainable Development Goals When following the Water Stewardship Protocol, mining companies work to advance the Sustainable Development Goals . • Improving water quality by reducing pollution and minimizing the release of hazardous chemicals in wastewater • Addressing water scarcity through more efficient water use, including through water reuse and recycling • Partnering with local communities and other water users to restore water-related ecosystems and to support local water-related programs Case Study: Improving Water Management At Hudbay, each site develops a water management plan that addresses its unique water needs and challenges. This plan assesses water quality, quantity, availability and the needs of local communities and other water users. These plans are developed early on in planning for the construction of a mine and are considered as part of the site’s studies on environmental impact. To ensure water risks and considerations are assessed throughout the mine life cycle, the plans are regularly reviewed and updated. In 2019, Hudbay took in 9% less water than the previous year and reduced the amount that it released into the environment by 15%. Recycled or reused water accounted for well over 300% of the company’s total water use. Case Study: Water in Real Time The Real Time Water Quality and hydrometric monitoring partnership was successfully established in 2003 between the Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment and Environment Canada in cooperation with Vale Canada Limited’s Labrador Operations. The objective of the network is to identify and track emerging water quality or quantity management issues and ensure protection of ambient water resources in and around the Voisey’s Bay Mine and Mill site operations. The program network consists of four water quality monitoring stations that are accessible by helicopter. These stations measure water quality parameters such as temperature, pH, specific conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity. The stations also record continuous stage level and flow data and this information is uploaded every four hours via satellite, using solar power. The first project to do this in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, it has now become the industry standard. Not only does the information help ensure water quality is maintained, but the data is also used by local Indigenous peoples within the region to predict the migration patterns of arctic char, an important fisheries resource.

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