A preliminary water footprint assessment of copper production in China

Abstract

Scarcer water resources, stricter water regulations, decline in ore grade and increasing controversy on water use between local communities and mining operators have raised awareness of good water stewardship as being vital to running commercially viable mining operations. Water footprint assessment (WFA) is a holistic methodological framework that allows detailed quantification of direct and indirect water use in different sectors at various spatial and temporal scales. The ultimate aim of this study is to identify water footprint (WF) reduction targets, formulate response strategies to minimize water consumption and pollution and therefore improve the environmental, social and economic sustainability of the mining processes. The assessment will eventually serve as a model for other mines in northern China with water scarcity issues. The paper describes the preliminary WFA of copper cathodes, with particular emphasis on the methodology, approach, degree of details and areas for consideration. It focuses from ore extraction to final discharge to the river. Significant WF contribution is found in the process rather than the supply chain. The explorative approach applied in this real case scenario and the findings contribute to the literature body of the WFA field. This case study can provide helpful guidance for WFA practitioners when applying this methodological framework in addressing particular issues in mining processes.

Water footprint analysis of second-generation bioethanol in Taiwan

“…During the bioethanol production process, catalysts such as sulfuric acid, enzymes, and sodium hydroxide were used. According to Chan et al (2013), the WF of the sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide WF is 5.31 m 3 /t and 2.86 m 3 /t, and our review of the literature revealed no indication of the WF of the enzyme. However, because these chemical substances were absent in the final bioethanol product, they were excluded from this study.…”

Accounting for Water Footprint of an Open-Pit Copper Mine

“…This study successfully accounted for the WF of an open-pit copper mine. While most studies reported only blue WF and grey WF [3,5,6,21], this study also included green WF, and therefore the WF accounting could be considered as complete and comprehensive. The integration of WAF with the WF enabled us to develop an inventory for water usage with its input and output.…”

“…Mining activities use an extensive amount of water in their various phases of production, with copper mining itself using more than 1.3 billion cubic meter water during 2006 [1,2]. The recent trend of declining ore grade along with stringent water regulations is putting sustainability challenge to this industry [3]. Understanding and utilizing the resources efficiently is a key for sustainable resource use and management, which is being put forward by the international and national community [2,4].…”

“…Despite the merit of the WF from the viewpoint of sustainability, only a few research studies have considered this for mining products [2][3][4][5][6]21]. Moreover, the scope of those studies was confined to the calculation of a blue WF, and in some cases both blue and grey WFs.…”

Toward the Implementation of Circular Economy Strategies: An Overview of the Current Situation in Mineral Processing

“…Water footprint methods have been developed significantly in the last decade and have recently been aligned with life cycle assessment approaches. Despite these advances, relatively few studies have focused on applying these methods in the mining and mineral processing industries (Chan et al 2014, Northey et al 2016. Some limitations were pointed by Northey et al (2016) that hinder the ability to carry out this type of study, including the availability of data on water use at the mine site, inventory data for mining supply chains, the uncertainty of post-closure impacts, and the difficulty of accounting for cumulative impacts and extreme events (for example, dam failures).…”