Mining operations play a crucial role in supplying the raw materials needed for global infrastructure, technology, and clean energy transitions. However, their reliance on—and impact on—freshwater systems has triggered severe environmental consequences and widespread socio-political conflict. As global water scarcity intensifies, mining’s footprint on freshwater availability is drawing increasing scrutiny. Innovative hydrological forecasting solutions like BWI’s virtual stations offer a path forward, helping the mining sector balance development with sustainability.
The mining industry is a significant consumer and polluter of freshwater. Gold mines alone consume over 125,000 cubic meters of water per hour—the equivalent of more than 50 Olympic swimming pools (https://www.skarnassociates.com/insights/gold-water-benchmarking). Australia’s Olympic Dam mine, owned by BHP, draws 35 million liters of water per day from the Great Artesian Basin, affecting ancient groundwater-dependent ecosystems (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_Dam_mine).
In Chile’s Atacama Desert—home to key lithium and copper deposits—water use by mining companies has led to the depletion of high-altitude wetlands and disruption of Indigenous livelihoods (source: https://www.wired.com/story/lithium-copper-mining-atacama-desert). Over 50% of the world’s lithium supply comes from regions of high water stress, intensifying the need for real-time water data (source: https://www.iea.org/reports/the-role-of-critical-minerals-in-clean-energy-transitions/reliable-supply-of-minerals).
In Myanmar’s Kachin State, Chinese-owned rare earth mines have caused widespread water pollution, leaving rivers laced with arsenic and forcing local villagers to abandon their agricultural livelihoods (source: https://www.lemonde.fr/en/environment/article/2024/05/23/rare-earth-mining-in-myanmar-an-extreme-example-of-widespread-destruction_6672433_114.html).
Zambia’s 2025 Sino-Metals Leach dam disaster released 50 million liters of toxic leachate into the Kafue River, impacting water access for thousands and raising questions about oversight (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Sino-Metals_Leach_Zambia_dam_disaster). A similar history of pollution surrounds Zambia’s Nchanga Copper Mine, operated by Konkola Copper Mines, where acid spills and tailings have repeatedly contaminated water supplies (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nchanga_Copper_mine).
In Peru, the Antamina mine—co-owned by Glencore and BHP—has been linked to the depletion of Lake Contonga and a dramatic decline in community access to potable water (source: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/feb/04/the-last-drops-of-our-water-how-a-mine-left-some-of-perus-poorest-high-and-dry). Similarly, the controversial Conga and Tía María mining projects in Peru were halted amid violent protests over fears of water contamination and scarcity (source: https://www.circleofblue.org/2015/world/mobile-version-unearthing-water-risks-global-mining-industry).
According to the Environmental Justice Atlas, over two-thirds of environmental conflicts globally are linked to water, and mining is a top contributor (source: https://en.ecoportal.net/temas-especiales/la-mineria-es-la-mayor-actividad-vinculada-a-los-conflictos-por-el-agua). In Latin America alone, more than 200 documented mining-related water conflicts have emerged in the past decade.
In East Africa, competition for water among mining firms, agriculture, and pastoralist communities has heightened tensions between Ethiopia and Kenya. Cross-border rivers such as the Dawa and Omo are flashpoints for disputes over industrial use and downstream access (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_conflict_between_Ethiopia_and_Kenya).
Meanwhile, in Papua New Guinea, the Ok Tedi environmental disaster—caused by the discharge of two billion tons of mine waste into the Ok Tedi River—destroyed aquatic ecosystems and the livelihoods of 50,000 people along a 1,000-km stretch (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ok_Tedi_environmental_disaster).
BWI’s virtual stations are AI-powered tools that forecast river discharge and surface freshwater levels using satellite data, hydrological models, and meteorological forecasts. These systems can transform how mining companies manage water resources in stressed basins. Here’s how:
Dynamic Water Allocation Planning: Mining companies can adjust water intake schedules based on forecasted river flow rates, avoiding withdrawal during low-flow periods and minimizing conflict with other users.
Tailings and Effluent Discharge Timing: Predictive discharge data allows for safer timing of treated wastewater releases, ensuring optimal dilution and reducing the risk of contamination events.
Risk Mitigation for Flood and Drought Events: Virtual stations enable early warning systems for extreme hydrological events, reducing downtime, damage to infrastructure, and emergency costs.
Water Balance Optimization: Continuous monitoring helps operators maintain basin-wide water budgets and stay in compliance with environmental regulations and sustainability targets.
Community Engagement and Transparency: Sharing forecasted water data with local stakeholders helps build trust, demonstrate accountability, and reduce the likelihood of social unrest.
To wind up, as the global mining industry expands to meet rising demand for critical minerals, the pressure on freshwater systems will only increase. Conflicts over water are already widespread, and the stakes—for communities, ecosystems, and companies—are enormous. BWI’s virtual stations offer a scalable, data-driven solution to one of the mining sector’s most pressing sustainability challenges. By equipping companies with the foresight they need to operate responsibly, BWI empowers the transition to a more equitable and water-secure future.
