Lifecycle of Mine Water

Water is an unequal distributed resource and the increase in demand in business and industry will lead more frequently to regional and temporary shortages, which will be exacerbated by global warming. As a major water user, the mining sector is expected to promote and support the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Sustainable and circular water management is critical for the mining industry to achieve a ‘social licence to operate’ and long-term profitability (Kunz and Moran, J Clean Prod 84:469–474, 2014). Following the guiding principle of the circular economy, the blue mining concept was developed at the Clausthal University of Technology, which stands for mining operations that are able to work in an energy-efficient and ergonomic way, aim for full automation and support sustainability by promoting the continued use of mine sites during and after extraction (Kellner and Langefeld, “Blue Mining” - the future of mining, 2013). In this chapter, dynamic water management in the sense of this concept is focused. Based on the life cycle of a mine current challenges, trends and research projects are presented.