⎪ Water, wastewater and pumping solutions ⎪
not a design consideration. Many mining facilities weren’t designed to withstand today’s extremes, let alone meet evolving regulatory standards. “This means that infrastructure was not designed for extreme events or even for the current design requirements being stipulated by global standards. Regulatory requirements have also improved over the decades, and design criteria for climate impact must be revised from original design requirements,” explains Nirvishee Juggath, the Director of Water Management at WSP in Africa. “Whether it is underground, open cast or open pit mining, the act of mining has an im- pact on water resources and water quality, while inflow from rain, runoff, recharge and lateral groundwater ingress is inevitable,” adds Juggath. To stay resilient, mining companies must strike a careful balance, adopting innovations in production and methodolo- gies to improve water efficiency while also developing strategies to capture and store excess water during the wet season for use in the dry season. “During high rainfall events, water availability is not an aspect of concern for communities and industries, but during the dry season, that’s when water quantity
and quality become an issue,” says Juggath. “Irresponsible use and management of wa- ter do not help the situation.” In many African countries, the relatively low cost of water – particularly in regions where pricing models fail to account for scarcity or environmental stress – can diminish the financial incentive for mining companies to invest in robust water man- agement practices. Juggath notes that while water steward- ship has often been deprioritised in favour of more immediate profitability, this is changing. “As mines are at the forefront of the risks climate change poses, with the inevitable impact on infrastructure and productivity, industries want to better understand how good water management can prevent loss, and mitigation measures they can take.” Juggath encourages mining companies to reassess their risk profiles, operational plans and environmental commitments. This includes reviewing infrastructure against best-practice design standards and con- ducting design reviews, reliability assess- ments and risk analyses. “Mining companies should develop a risk-based action plan that identifies vulnerabilities and prioritises upgrades, particularly for critical systems and facilities.”
“We are seeing a clear shift across the sector toward resilience-focused innova- tion and adaptive measures, where renew- able and hybrid power systems, advanced process optimisation, real-time monitoring, and closed-loop water solutions are being integrated to reduce dependence on vulner- able resources, strengthen operational con- tinuity, and enhance overall efficiency under increasing climate pressures,” says Chetty. Infrastructure upgrades are also gain- ing momentum, with emphasis on building resilience into tailings storage facilities, haul roads and processing plants. “The frequency and severity of climate- related extremes are increasing, but so is our capacity to engineer resilience. By integrat- ing science-based insights, strengthening critical infrastructure, and optimising water and energy systems, mining operations can safeguard performance, protect communi- ties, and reduce vulnerability while adapting effectively in an increasingly volatile climate landscape,” concludes Chetty. WSP is one of the world’s leading profes- sional services firms, pioneering solutions and delivering innovative projects across sectors: Transportation & Infrastructure, Property & Buildings, Earth & Environment, Water, Power & Energy and Mining & Metals. https://www.wsp.com/en-za
March-April 2026 • MechChem Africa ¦ 9
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