Mining and Water we need both!
How mining affects water and the water table. Firstly, let us establish that water is an important resource while also acknowledging that mining (gold, Platinum or Coal) creates jobs in their thousands. Conserving water and creating jobs is a balance that South Africa must face as water becomes scarce. Let us quickly do facts: water can be obtained from rivers, lakes, dams and underground deposits. We know Vaal Dam, Fish River and the Lesotho Highlands. Ground water is where the problem is. The depth of the ground water is the water table (simplified!). The lower the water table, the more costly it is to get to the water (wells and so on). And worse: the water may no longer be available as the deposits have been exhausted. Here are aspects to consider: gold mines alone use large volumes of water as a multi-purpose agent, from cooling of the mine to water-powered machinery. A mine shaft (and mine tunnels) will typically go through the water table and that means water will flood the mine unless it is pumped out. So not only does a mine need a lot of water, it also ‘produces’ a lot of water. However, All of this has a detrimental effect on the water and the water table even if the mines
