Mine Water Use, Treatment, and Reuse in the United States: A Look at Current Industry Practices and Select Case Studies

Abstract

Mining provides significant economic value while often impacting local water supplies and environments because of freshwater usage and waste disposal practices. This study identifies current practices in mine water, including how water is used in mining, influent and effluent water quality, treatment technologies, and end uses with the goal of informing future research on implementable, reliable, and cost-effective advanced water treatment in the mining sector. This study also reviews the available literature to broadly evaluate mining in the United States and performs a techno-economic assessment on water use and disposal for three detailed case studies applicable to lithium, uranium, and copper mines. These case studies highlight specific industry examples of distinct extraction methods, geographical regions, and mined commodities. Hypothetical scenarios based on case study baselines revealed potential impacts to mine water available for beneficial reuse through the use of novel water treatment technologies and alternate water management strategies. Finally, an assessment of national level impacts resulting from the reuse of treated mine source water is presented.

The Impact of Metal Mining on Global Water Stress and Regional Carrying Capacities—A GIS-Based Water Impact Assessment

“…Owing to the fact that water is a substantial resource for mining operations [21], the mining sector is a large industrial water user that is growing rapidly all over the world. Although the usage of water in the mining industry shares many of the characteristics of other industrial water consumers, it has some distinctive features.…”

Prospects of metal recovery from wastewater and brine

“…For example, the path to global decarbonization is contingent on sustainably sourced lithium, nickel and cobalt to manufacture lithium-ion batteries with high energy density, as well as platinum to produce polymer electrolyte fuel cells with high catalytic performance. The perpetual supply of these critical metals and metalloids, however, is not guaranteed as supplies decrease and ore grades decline in the future 3,4 .…”