A day in the life of a water resources and environmental engineering manager

As part of World Water Week, we followed one of our water managers. Leonardo Mitre is the water resources and environmental engineering manager at our Minas-Rio project in Brazil. From surface to groundwater, he monitors all our resources, so we know we’re hitting our targets on a daily basis and using water as efficiently as possible.

Water is fundamental to our business. So, too, are the people who manage it. People like Leonardo are helping us turn our water strategy into a day-to-day reality; making us leaders, partners, and innovators in water stewardship.

9am

The morning rounds. At Minas-Rio, Leonardo meets with his water resources team to discuss and plan for the day’s activities. Today, they’re evaluating a watercourse at the mine.

10am
After his morning meeting, Leonardo goes to the tailings dam to check the level of the reservoir, ensuring it matches the expected level. The reservoirs are a key water supply for the operation, so his team conducts water balance studies on a daily basis, assessing against their predictions as well as the needs of the operation.

11am
Still at the tailings dam, Leonardo joins Rafael, another member of the water resources team, to check the pumping system. This system regulates water flow from the reservoir and works 24 hours a day.

12pm
Meeting high standards. Leonardo joins fellow water resources engineers, Gustavo and Rafael, at the dike to check the quality of the water flowing downstream.

2pm
Leonardo and Gustavo visit one of the water treatment plants at Minas-Rio, making sure it’s running smoothly. The water resources team is responsible for monitoring water from these plants and providing technical support for the operations team.

3pm
In the afternoon, Leonardo works with Katherine, a geologist, to verify the level of a watercourse near the mine. All waterways around the operation are checked by the water resources team, ensuring appropriate levels and water quality.

4pm
Mines don’t just rely on watercourses and reservoirs – they rely on good quality water underneath our feet. A piezometer is one of the ways the devices we use to we can measure this ground water level and pressure. In the afternoon, Leonardo joins colleagues Josimar and José Luiz for their monthly monitoring.

5pm
Back at the office, Leonardo discusses the results of the day’s water monitoring with Katherine, where they evaluate the health of the water supply at Minas-Rio and plan for tomorrow’s activities.