The utility of a systems approach for managing strategic water risks at a mine site level

© 2016 The Authors. Mining operations increasingly encounter two water-related risks: (1) Dryness - having insufficient water to meet production needs; and (2) Wetness - having too much water leading to discharge during high rainfall events. Water accounts and dynamic systems models have been develo...

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Main Authors: Kunz, N., Moran, Christopher
Format: Journal Article
Published: 2016
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/48013
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author Kunz, N.
Moran, Christopher
author_facet Kunz, N.
Moran, Christopher
author_sort Kunz, N.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description © 2016 The Authors. Mining operations increasingly encounter two water-related risks: (1) Dryness - having insufficient water to meet production needs; and (2) Wetness - having too much water leading to discharge during high rainfall events. Water accounts and dynamic systems models have been developed to assist decision makers in identifying these risks, however little empirical research has explored the practical utility of a systems modelling approach. To address this gap, we apply a systems approach at an operational mine site. Uncertainties in water flows were identified to guide decisions about where additional monitoring equipment should be installed to improve the accuracy of the overall site water balance. Simulation results provided valuable information for the site water committee to consider "out-of-the-box" ideas for progressing towards its ambitious water goals and mitigating strategic water risks. It is concluded that systems approaches should be further applied within mining and other industrial sectors.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-480132017-09-13T14:22:51Z The utility of a systems approach for managing strategic water risks at a mine site level Kunz, N. Moran, Christopher © 2016 The Authors. Mining operations increasingly encounter two water-related risks: (1) Dryness - having insufficient water to meet production needs; and (2) Wetness - having too much water leading to discharge during high rainfall events. Water accounts and dynamic systems models have been developed to assist decision makers in identifying these risks, however little empirical research has explored the practical utility of a systems modelling approach. To address this gap, we apply a systems approach at an operational mine site. Uncertainties in water flows were identified to guide decisions about where additional monitoring equipment should be installed to improve the accuracy of the overall site water balance. Simulation results provided valuable information for the site water committee to consider "out-of-the-box" ideas for progressing towards its ambitious water goals and mitigating strategic water risks. It is concluded that systems approaches should be further applied within mining and other industrial sectors. 2016 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/48013 10.1016/j.wri.2016.02.001 unknown
spellingShingle Kunz, N.
Moran, Christopher
The utility of a systems approach for managing strategic water risks at a mine site level
title The utility of a systems approach for managing strategic water risks at a mine site level
title_full The utility of a systems approach for managing strategic water risks at a mine site level
title_fullStr The utility of a systems approach for managing strategic water risks at a mine site level
title_full_unstemmed The utility of a systems approach for managing strategic water risks at a mine site level
title_short The utility of a systems approach for managing strategic water risks at a mine site level
title_sort utility of a systems approach for managing strategic water risks at a mine site level
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/48013