World Water Week 2018: Water, ecosystems, and human development

This year, thousands of delegates at World Water Week in Stockholm (26-31 August) will focus on water and how it relates to our ecosystem and human development - experts, practitioners, decision-makers, and innovators will exchange ideas and try to come up with new solutions to today’s water-related challenges.

In 2015, water was number one on the list of global risks drawn up by World Economic Forum (when measured in terms of impact). It dropped down to three the following year. But with predicted global water shortfall of 40% by 2030, pressure on shared freshwater resources must be the biggest challenge facing the world, particularly if we continue to experience the low rainfall and unseasonably high temperatures we’ve seen recorded around the world in recent weeks and months.

Anglo American and Water

Because we’re a mining company, water is certainly a challenge for us. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to mine for and provide the raw materials the modern world needs to function. And, along with our industry peers, we are very aware that it is no longer acceptable for mining companies to use fresh water at the cost of drinking water supplies.

We’re doing everything we can to reduce our dependency on water: it’s one of the nine stretch goals that fall under the three pillars of our recently launched Sustainability Strategy and in recent years we’ve spent millions of US dollars on water management systems, infrastructure, treatment, and recycling.

We introduced new water management standards and reporting requirements that meet the criteria set out by our industry body, the ICMM, and we’re using all our operational excellence and our innovative thinking to create water efficient technology that will help us to eliminate the use of fresh water from our processes.

South Africa and Water

We have a significant presence in South Africa. It is one of the most water-scarce countries in the world, so we are very active in reducing our fresh water consumption and implementing ways in which we can conserve this precious resource.

Last year, we commissioned the strategic Limpopo regional source-water project, in collaboration with the Department of Water Affairs and Sanitation, to restate the regional water balances of catchments in Limpopo.

The aim was to re-assess the water excesses and deficiencies in Limpopo, so that we can work with other stakeholders in the region to come up with solutions to address shortfalls, now and in the future.

Preliminary findings indicate that there will be significant shortfalls in the regional water supply up to 2022, which emphasises the importance of effective water supply and demand management for all stakeholders.

We are working with the Olifants River Water Forum, the Lebolelo Water Board pipeline and 30 organisations to provide long-term bulk water services to mines and communities in the area. In the meantime, supplying groundwater to communities is an immediate short-term option – see our Mapela project case study below.

Case study: Water, ecosystems, and human development – the Mapela project

In Limpopo province, Anglo American Platinum is aiming to address some of the challenges in what is a water-stressed area.

In the past, they trucked in potable water to villages in the area. Now, they’re extending the project and will provide water to 70,000 people in 42 villages in Mapela over the next 10 years.

The team are working with local stakeholders, the Mapela Task Team, and the Mapela Traditional Community, as well as the Hall Core Water Mapela (HCWM) to sustainably increase water supply in the area. HCWM is a newly formed company, co-owned by the community.

Our recently launched Sustainability Strategy highlights the importance of keeping people and the environment safe, and using collaborative regional development to provide sustainable benefits for host communities. We believe that this project is completely aligned to those objectives and we relish the opportunity to work together with the Municipality and the Mapela Traditional Authority to find a solution to the water constraints that the region faces.

Executive Head of Corporate Affairs for Anglo American Platinum Seara Mkhabela

Lebang Gaobepe, Senior Social Performance Manager at the Mogalakwena Mine, added: “We saw an opportunity to think innovatively about how we could bring water to the people of Schiming in a sustainable manner. We’re working to build communities where our mining operations live side by side with communities that are thriving.”

HCWM will carry out the necessary work – drilling and maintaining boreholes – and oversee maintenance of the project for the next 10 years and Anglo American Platinum will fund it. If the groundwater supply isn’t available in drought periods or other circumstances, alternatives are being looked at to ensure sustainable supplies e.g. artificial recharge and rainfall harvesting during wet periods.

The project, which has been successfully piloted at Schiming village, will deliver 3,500,000 litres per day to the communities.

John Maluleke, who is a member of the Mapela community, commented: “Now we have water every day, our animals don’t have to walk long distances to get water. We can live hygienically because we can do washing anytime we want to. Life is really beautiful.”

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