water footprint

The water footprint

The water footprint shows how much water is used for consumption by people. The water footprint of an individual, community or business is defined as the total volume of freshwater used to produce goods and services consumed by the individual or community or produced by the company. Water use is measured by the volume of water consumed and / or contaminated per unit time.

Tool for Mine Water Footprint

1. Historical focus:

Mine water management usually work practically at mining sites to meet the needs of water for mining. It focuses on the disposal of extra water and other issues about mine water.

2. Mine water stockpile:

While discussing the mine water issues there must be a stockpile for mine water. From this we know about the inputs, outputs, storage and diversions of water at mining site.

3. Unfair able conditions:

Stockpile gives very easy to understand the water management but there are some unfavorable conditions that make the development of mine water inventory inconvenient. Such as climate change; not gave proper blue prints of water flow and changing in project.

4. Evaluation of mine water balance:

The stock book gives the complete information about the physical system; water inputs and outputs; evaporation and flows of mine water. It also establishes rules for future management of mine water.  In the development of mine water balance the inventory give all the possible factors and uncertainties while making mining projects.

5. Rectifications:

While using water balance and inventory methodology we can identify leaks, open loop and other factors affecting performance at mining sites. These factors can be improved by using 3R strategies; change mining planes and collect the correct flows of water.

6. Co-operate Reporting schemes:

Different companies as like CDP Water, MCA Water Accounting Framework and Lifecycle Assessments gave the whole Statistics of water use at mining sites.

7. Water Accounting:

It gives the detailed data from water balance and gave results that used at large scale for mining operations.

8. Regional Impacts:

Hydraulic, geochemical and hydrogeological studies used to recognize the source of water and understand the impacts of region. From this step we can compare the quality of mine water.

9. Positive Effects of Mining:

Enhance the development of mining at large scale with low consumptions. Social media also plays huge role to encourage NGO’s for the sake of environment and community issues. By this effect people know about the importance of water.

10.  Water Footprint:

All the above factors come to the water foot print the important role in water impact assessment. The impacts of water foot prints measures fresh water devote, spatial and temporal dimensions fully supply-chain. It helps to focus on less use of water footprint.

11. Methods:

ISO method gives the process to develop water footprint. Water footprint network categories into green, blue and grey water. Green water comes from soil or by vegetation and use to make products. Than the unused water goes to ground surface this water calls the blue water and transfer to different catchments. The third category i.e. Grey water is dilute discharge to full fill the goals of mining.

12. Index:

CUI consumptive water use Index gives the information about the availability and confirm the level of water in store. DUI degradative water use Index informed about the quality of mine water. Single Indicator water footprint gives solutions to adjust the footprint according to CUI, DUI, site inspections and most importance activeness of stake holders.

13. Affecting Factors:

There are many factors that affect the water foot print such as climate change, site conditions, and water resources management techniques, quality of water, locality and discharge methods.

14. Water Stress Index:

Water footprint can be more useful by comparing areas of water where it is plenty or surplus. As water depletion index, available water remaining (WULCA), blue water scarcity. Water stress index also remarked the presence of metals’ in mines. Although the regional WSI provides the more suitable water footprints.

15. Actions to Take:

Being Socialized

 Good relations and Communication Skills 

Give the proper plan of water use

Take the actions to cover the problems related to climate change

Use 3R strategy