Water use

Coal & Allied sites use a combination of fresh, poor quality and recycled water.  We aim to minimise the use of freshwater, preserving it for other uses, and maximise the amount of water that is captured in-pit and recycled through the processing of coal. 

For example, water captured in the pit on the site is used for dust suppression, truck washing and coal processing.

Freshwater is defined as 'used' once it enters our operations and is immediately, or is intended to be, used for coal mining and processing. Water may enter the site via rainfall, groundwater seepage or pumped from an external source.

Results

The 2008 target for Coal & Allied sites was to use 43 litres of freshwater per tonne of product.

The actual use was well below target, with 25 litres of freshwater used. Hunter Valley Operations used no water from the Hunter River during 2008, compared with the target of 36 litres per tonne of product. Mount Thorley Warkworth Mine also used much less than its freshwater use target. 

For both sites this was assisted by an excess of poor quality water stored in pit following the wet conditions in 2007 and the first half 2008. The mine water management systems were operated to favour extraction from poor water quality sources over river water. Bengalla also achieved its freshwater use target for 2008.