The Case for Change
The Global Water Initiative (GWI) was born out of the recognition that water is essential not only for life but also as a critical resource in mining and resource extraction industries. The industry faces significant challenges, including social and environmental risks, water scarcity, conflicts over water rights, and the complexities of managing water in operations. These challenges hinder mineral production and escalate costs.
While industry guidelines like those from ICMM, IRMA, and UNEP provide valuable starting points, they highlight the need for context-specific water solutions. GWI was established to bridge the gap between data collection and practical water management in operations by fostering collaboration across disciplines.
Introducing the Water Wheel Framework
When identifying possible initiatives and themes, the CEEC team envisioned a way to illustrate how these focus areas interact. The concept of a Water Wheel emerged, with the hub of the wheel representing the central concept of interdisciplinary collaboration. This collaboration provides the power and momentum required to drive and sustain efforts distributed across the remaining four groupings of initiatives:
- Water Management and Treatment
- Technological Innovation and Integration
- Cultural and Social Considerations
- Environmental Responsibility and Monitoring
This Water Wheel framework was unanimously adopted by workshop participants as an effective model to communicate this important body of work. It not only serves as a memorable and identifiable brand for GWI but also highlights the interconnectedness of the various focus areas, emphasising the critical role of water in both downstream and upstream communities.
A Vision for the Future
The GWI envisions a future where water management, treatment, procurement, and handling are pivotal considerations for resource operations, included in life of mine planning rather than as afterthoughts or responses to crises.
A Legacy of Success
Building on the success of the CEEC Energy Curves initiative, GWI addresses the added complexities of water as a resource, recognizing that water quality, quantity, and boundaries all play critical roles in the success of the initiative.
A Collaborative Approach
The GWI Roadmap is the result of extensive collaboration with industry leaders, practitioners, researchers, and other stakeholders, focusing on assessing the current state, defining gaps, and envisioning a future state.
What Will the GWI Legacy Mean?
- A future without water-related disasters.
- Alignment of investors, regulators, industry professionals, and communities.
- An environment where responsible water use is the norm.
- Enhanced knowledge and effectiveness in solving water-related challenges.
- Open collaboration and knowledge-sharing across the industry.
- A commitment to sustainable water practices, minimising negative impacts, and improving overall ESG performance.