Assessing Water Risks in the Mining Industry using Life Cycle Assessment Based Approaches

Recent advances life cycle assessment methodology provide an opportunity to gain a more holistic understanding of how the mining industry interacts with water resources. A detailed review of assessment methodology and water management in the mining industry was undertaken to identify research needs. Global datasets of water use statistics for mining operations were also developed, and an exhaustive analysis of how global mineral resources and production are spatially distributed across local water and climate contexts was performed. The project has made a significant advance in our understanding of how the global minerals industry interacts with water resources.