Rio Tinto and water (PDF 4.1 MB)

Rio Tinto
and water
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About Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto is a leading global mining group,
combining Rio Tinto plc, a public company
listed on the London Stock Exchange, and
Rio Tinto Limited, which is listed on the
Australian Securities Exchange.
We are involved in every stage of the
mining business. Products include
aluminium, copper, iron ore, coal and
uranium. Activities span the world but
are concentrated in Australia and
North America.
Wherever we operate, the health and safety
of our employees, and a contribution
to sustainable development are key values.
We work closely with host countries and
communities, respecting their laws and
customs and ensuring a fair share of
benefits and opportunities.
Rio Tinto and sustainable development
Mining is a long term, capital intensive business, with assets
often situated in remote locations. The extended timescale means
that if Rio Tinto is to deliver financial returns to shareholders,
host governments and local communities, we need economic,
environmental and social stability.
Rio Tinto is committed to sustainable development not just because it
is the responsible and ethical approach to managing the earth’s natural
resources, but also because it makes sound business sense.
Our business success is built on access to land, people and capital.
Rio Tinto believes we can help ensure access by building a strong and
deserved reputation through our care for the environment, our social
policies and our contribution to economic prosperity. The concept
of sustainable development is integrated into all aspects of Rio Tinto’s
business through our corporate and operational policies, standards,
strategies, programmes and performance indicators.
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Contents
02 Message from the chief executive
03 Introduction
04 The importance of water
05 The Rio Tinto water strategy
06 Water use
08 Improving our performance
18 Understanding the value of water
22 Engaging with others
28 Future challenges

Message from the chief executive
For more than a decade we at
Rio Tinto have sought to improve
our water performance and to be
a responsible water manager. This
booklet shares our approach to water
management, details our progress
and describes some of the challenges
that we are currently tackling.
Many parts of the world are experiencing water supply
and quality difficulties with serious consequences
for the environment, communities, industries and
governments. There is increasing concern at the
international, national and local level as people begin
to recognise the inherent value of water.
Companies, including Rio Tinto, cannot afford to regard
water as an inexpensive commodity; rather it is a shared
resource and we must collaborate to ensure society uses
it to the greatest benefit.
In the past, we focused on managing the operational
impacts of our water use on the environment. Since
2005, we have adopted a more strategic approach that
accounts for the social, environmental and economic
aspects of water management.
Such an approach requires us to research and adopt the
best water management practices, to engage with others
on sustainable water management, and to understand
better the value of water in our business decisions.
Tough economic times reinforce the need to recognise
there is a cost to using water. Beyond the broader social
and environmental benefits of conserving our water
resources, it makes good business sense not to waste
water and to reduce our water use.
Over the past ten years we have improved our water
management and have adopted innovative approaches
to conserving water resources. At the same time,
we have recognised that our approach to water
management must take into consideration issues such
as energy, climate change and biodiversity.
While we have made progress in the way we manage
water, many challenges remain. Nevertheless, by
continuing to work with others – both internally and
externally – we believe that we can responsibly manage
this vital resource in a way that meets current and
future needs.
Tom Albanese
Chief executive, Rio Tinto
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Introduction
Water is used in the coal washing plant at the Hail Creek Mine, Queensland, Australia, to separate coarse coal and rock from smaller particles.
Water is an increasingly scarce and valued resource across the
globe. Governments, communities and industries are experiencing
unprecedented concern as a result of increasing demand from
fast growing populations, unsustainable water practices and persistent
droughts. Climate change is expected to place more pressure on
available water resources, with some regions predicted to become
much drier and other regions wetter.
All Rio Tinto businesses need water to operate. We
use water to process ore, to manage waste, and to
suppress the dust created by mining. Water is essential
to producing metal and power, to cooling equipment,
and for the everyday needs of employees and their
families. As well as using water, it is sometimes
necessary to remove it or change the way it flows
around our operations in order to maintain a safe
and stable working environment.
This booklet provides information about Rio Tinto’s
water strategy and the programmes and tools that
our businesses have implemented to help manage
water responsibly.
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The importance of water
The Rio Tinto water
strategy provides direction
for our businesses and
encourages long term
thinking about water use
while promoting better
performance.
Water sprayers help small ore particles move through a screen in
a grinding mill at the Northparkes Mine, New South Wales, Australia.
Water – a social, environmental
and economic resource
Water can have social, environmental and
economic values. Communities need clean water
for drinking and sanitation but, in many countries,
water is either contaminated or insufficient to
meet communities’ needs.
The OECD Environmental Outlook predicts that by
2030, about 47 per cent of the world’s population will
be living under severe water stress — approximately
3.9 billion people.
Increasingly, the world is recognising the importance
of good quality water for environmental flows and
the value of water as an ecosystem service. Ecosystem
services are the benefits we gain from the environment
through the provision of freshwater, food, timber,
climate regulation, erosion control, and pharmaceutical
ingredients. Adequate supplies of water are vital to
support many of these services.
Economies are vulnerable to water shortages. Water
shortages are a serious problem for water dependent
industries; the most obvious example being agricultural
production which declines during a drought.
Understandably, water is allocated to people first and
industry’s needs come last. In addition, the cost of
water is rising as a result of water scarcity and as new
infrastructure is built. Companies face increasing
scrutiny of their water management and water use. For
example, financial institutions are beginning to assess
the risk of water scarcity and the potential threat it
poses to production or new investment.
The importance of water
for Rio Tinto
Access to water is critical to Rio Tinto’s operations.
Rio Tinto owns and manages more than
110 operations around the world, located in six
geographical regions across seven different
climate zones.
Each Rio Tinto operation has its own set of water
challenges. Some are located in water scarce
environments, where increasingly they compete with
other water users, while others need to manage surplus
water resulting from storms or groundwater.
An example is Rio Tinto Alcan’s operations in
Gladstone, Queensland, Australia, which faced a 50 per
cent cut in their 2002-03 water allocation, before rain
replenished supplies. On the other hand, Rio Tinto Iron
Ore operations in the Pilbara, Western Australia has lost
production as a result of flooding due to cyclones.
Water quality concerns can also affect production or
increase operating costs. An example is Kennecott Utah
Copper in the United States where Rio Tinto, as the
current owners, must manage historical groundwater
contamination, a legacy of past mining practices.
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Rio Tinto’s water strategy
Rio Tinto takes a strategic approach to managing
water that incorporates social, environmental
and economic aspects.
Our water strategy was developed in 2005, following
internal and external consultation, and aims to manage
long term risks and opportunities.
In the past, many Rio Tinto operations managed
water as an environmental issue, not as a significant
business asset with an economic value. The total
value of water was often not appreciated until water
was no longer available, or the operation was unable
to discharge surplus water, or water had become a
community concern. Water management was generally
ad hoc and fragmented, often with inadequate long
term planning.
The Rio Tinto water strategy provides direction for
our businesses and encourages long term thinking
about water use, while promoting better performance.
The strategy’s three key elements are:
• Improving water performance.
• Accounting for the value of water.
• Engaging with others on sustainable
water management.
The water strategy supports Rio Tinto's environmental
and sustainable development policies. As Rio Tinto
businesses have different concerns and challenges
regarding water, each implements the strategy in its
own way. Water is also closely linked to how we manage
other resources and issues such as energy, climate
change and biodiversity.
Measures to improve water management can have
unintended impacts — for example, piping water to
share between mines may help with water efficiency
but can also significantly increase energy use.
Rio Tinto strategies, such as those for climate change
and biodiversity, help us to understand the complex
interrelationships and trade offs in managing
environmental resources.
Water strategy
Water strategy framework
Programmes Objectives
Improve Value Engage
Improving water
performance
• Water standard
• Water target
• Water risk review
• Climate change
• Closure
Accounting for
the value of water
• Framework for
social, environmental
and economic value
of water
• Ecosystem services
Engaging with
others on water
• Government
water policy
• Partnerships
• Internal collaboration
• Community and water
Outcomes
• Reduced operating
costs
• Reduced social and
environmental impact
• Water understood as
key business resource
• Non-financial aspects
of water incorporated
into business
decisions
• Recognition as
leaders in water
management
• Reliable access to
affordable water
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Water use
Water trucks spray roads on the mine site to reduce dust levels at the Blair Athol Mine, Queensland, Australia.
How does Rio Tinto use water
Water is used at every stage of our business;
for exploration, mining, processing, smelting
and refining.
Water is needed to process and mine ore, produce metal
and power, cool equipment, manage waste tailings,
suppress dust, for washing and drinking and to supply
communities. While the minerals and metals industry
is a small user of water on a global and national scale,
it can be the largest user at a local level.
We use water from different sources and of
different qualities, such as groundwater (water sourced
from aquifers), surface water (water sourced from rivers,
lakes, rain and snow), sea water or water from dams
that we build on site. In addition, some of our water
is recycled — approximately 17 per cent across the
Rio Tinto Group, with some sites recycling up to
70 per cent — as well as sourced from external recycling
and treatment plants. At many sites, we replace high
quality (potable) water with poorer quality water
to help conserve local water supplies.
Many of Rio Tinto’s operations are located in arid
areas where water is limited and the local supply
may be poor quality. Often Rio Tinto builds major
infrastructure to supply water to the site. Operations
can also be located where there is a water surplus
and careful management is required to enable safe
operations, as well as to minimise impacts when
releasing the water back into the environment.
Water returned to the environment after contact
with mining or processing activities has a potential
environmental and social impact because its quality
may have been altered. Any water discharged from
our operations must accord with water quality
compliance limits.
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Water is needed to process and
mine ore, produce metal and power,
cool equipment, manage waste tailings,
suppress dust, for washing and
drinking and to supply communities.
Water use
Watering at the Rössing Foundation’s pensioner gardens in
Namibia, Africa. Produce is available for the pensioners’ own use,
with any surplus being sold locally.
Rio Tinto water inputs and outputs 2008
Diverted water used for generation of hydroelectric power 152,750 GL
water input = 154,551 GL
Diverted water around mining and processing sites 121 GL
Water withdrawn 1
1,236 GL
Water in ore
that is processed
428 GL
Imported
recycled water
15.6 GL
Water use on site
• Process water 1,433 GL 3
• Recycled water 244 GL 4
• Change in storage during year 2 GL 5
Water return 2
153,850 GL
Evaporation
and seepage
596 GL
Entrained in product
or process waste
98 GL
Sent to third parties
4.5 GL
water output = 154,549 GL
Water supplied directly to others
45 GL
Town supply, export
or pastoral use
45 GL
Water input Water output Water supplied Water use
1 Including onsite impounded/imported surface, onsite/imported ground water (including dewatering) and marine water.
2 Including process effluent, dewatering water discharged without use and non process water.
3 Including mining (dewatering), milling, washing, power generation, dust suppression etc.
4 Tailings, sewage or water contaminated in process that has been treated for re-use.
5 The difference between total water input and total water output is 'change in storage'.
1 GL = 1 gigalitre of water (1 billion litres)
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Water canons spray the raw coal stock pile at Coal & Allied's Bengalla mine, New South Wales, Australia, in order to reduce dust.
Improving our performance
Rio Tinto operations need to
continually improve their water
management in order to be good
neighbours, to reduce operational
constraints and to demonstrate
why Rio Tinto should be the
developer of choice for new
orebodies. Operations that reduce
their demand through efficiency,
technology and the use of lower
quality and recycled water are
more likely to have a competitive,
economic and reputational
advantage.
We have developed a number of
programmes to help achieve improved
performance, including:
• A water standard that sets the
minimum expectations for each
operation when managing water.
• A water target for all operations
that aims to improve the efficiency
of fresh water use.
• A water risk review that assesses
risk and opportunities and provides
a holistic approach to water
management at an operation.
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Rio Tinto water use and quality
control standard
The water standard was developed in 2003
and sets down Rio Tinto’s minimum expectations
for water management. It applies to all Rio Tinto
operations — from the exploration stage right through
to closure — as part of a series of environmental
standards that help deliver consistent performance
wherever we operate. To meet the water standard,
each operation is required to have:
• A water balance and water management plan that help
to plan for all water needs and challenges.
• Skilled water personnel who understand how to assess
water risk, manage water in their operations and engage
with the community.
• Appropriately designed water infrastructure,
such as water storages and borefields, that reflect
leading practice.
Operations are audited against the standard every
two years. Audit results show that while some
operations are meeting the standard, others are still
working to improve their water balances and water
management plans.
A water balance accounts for an operation’s water
inputs, the flows of water within the operation and then
all water outputs. A water balance allows an operation
to understand what its water consumption and
discharge requirements are so that it can predict the
amount of water needed compared to what is available
or stored on site. It also distinguishes between different
quality waters, such as freshwater or recycled water.
Rio Tinto Group water target
Rio Tinto set a five year efficiency target in 2003
that called for a ten per cent reduction per tonne of
product in freshwater withdrawn from the environment.
The target was based on the combined performance
of individual operations.
At the end of the target period, we achieved a
6.3 per cent reduction in fresh water withdrawal
per tonne of product (excluding former Alcan
operations). Efficiencies were mainly achieved through
production increases — more product was produced
for the same volume of water — with water recycling
activities at several operations also contributing.
However, improvements were offset by climatic events,
particularly in Australia. Heavy rain led to flooding
and the need for additional pit dewatering, or a
requirement to impound water for treatment before
use or release to the environment. Increased mining
below the water table as part of expansion activities
also required additional dewatering, particularly
at some operations in Western Australia.
A new water efficiency target is currently being
developed for the five year period from 2010 to 2014.
While many businesses have found a water target
challenging to reach, it has helped drive water efficiency
actions at operations, raise the priority of water and
develop better data collection systems, baselines
and projections.
Improving our performance
A water management plan describes the overall
objective and vision for water management at the
operation level: regulatory conditions and reporting
requirements, what actions need to be taken and why,
who is responsible, and who needs to be consulted or
advised of any proposed changes. Plans must be updated
every four years or during major expansions or upgrades
to take account of any changes to water management.
% reduction per tonne of product
Rio Tinto Group water target
Actual and target
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
-5%
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Rio Tinto results
2008 Target
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Improving our performance
Water risk review
One of the main tools Rio Tinto has developed to
help operations identify risks and opportunities for
managing water is the water risk review. The review
has been undertaken by almost 40 operations since
it was developed in 2005 and provides a holistic
approach to site water management.
The review assesses an operation’s current water
performance against a number of water management
aspects. These include technical elements, such as water
balances and water treatment; management elements,
such as monitoring, measuring and stakeholder
engagement; and corporate requirements, such
as water targets.
The review has led to improvements in performance
through the development, for example, of water
balances, the appointment of water champions and
water teams, as well as providing a focus on improving
water management at new projects.
Water risk review
Site water balance
Water efficiency, recycling, targets & indicators
Surface water management
Ground water management
Water resource assurance
Water disposal assurance
The water risk
review assesses
the site’s current
water management
status across several
dimensions of
water management
compared to where
the site wants to be.
The gap provides the
pathway for action
planning.
Water transfer system and tanks
Tailings dam, co-disposal and water dams
Personnel skills and accountabilities
Data collection, management, checks & review
Water management planning
Water related closure planning
Partnerships and collaboration
Water strategy
Current performance
Performance goal
0 = not addressed
1 = improvemet required
3 = satisfactory
5 = leading performance
0 1 3 5
The data in this graph is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent any particular Rio Tinto operation.
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Improving our performance
Case study
The dry and cracked surface of a tailings dam at Rössing uranium mine, Namibia, Africa. Waste slurry is taken to the tailings dam where the water is removed
to be recycled and reused in the processing plant.
Rössing Uranium Limited – putting strategy into action
Rössing Uranium
is situated in the
Namib Desert,
Namibia, where the
climate experiences
low and erratic rainfall,
soaring temperatures
and strong seasonal
winds that cause
high water evaporation
rates. The mining
and milling process
requires some three
million cubic metres
of water each year.
Water is bought from
the Namibian bulk water
supplier, NamWater,
which sources it from the
Omaruru and Kuiseb rivers.
However, expanding local
communities and industry
have placed increasing
pressure on water supply.
Rössing recognised it
needed to develop an
understanding of the
impact of its water use on
local systems and determine
how its water demand could
affect the needs of other
community members.
In 2005, the mine
implemented a formal
water strategy that built
on its previous work and
water management plans.
A water risk assessment was
carried out with some of
Rössing’s key stakeholders,
which identified further
opportunities for water
savings and improving the
mine’s water balance and
accounting.
Rössing has worked to
reduce its water footprint
by implementing water
recycling at the mine,
extracting and reusing
water from the tailings
dam, minimising high
evaporative water losses,
using alternative lower
quality water sources
and creating awareness
to conserve water. Water
used for cleaning and
dust suppression in the
processing plant is returned
to the mills or tailings
pumps. Effluent from
workshops is pumped to an
oil separation plant from
where the separated water
is mixed with semi-purified
sewage effluent and re-used
in the mine.
NamWater plans to build
a desalination plant near
Swakopmund in the near
future, where Rössing will
receive water as soon as
it is available. However,
in the event that the
continuous recharge of the
Omdel dam sustainably
increases beyond domestic
demand, Rössing would
request supplementary
aquifer supply to cater for
future mining extensions.
Ongoing water activities
at Rössing include a study
to determine the true value
of water in the local context,
continuing co-operation
with local farmers,
enhancing the water
recovery systems at the
mine and the introduction
of water awareness training
for all new employees
and contractors.
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Improving our performance
Water sources
The water we use in our operations comes from a variety of sources, including groundwater, surface water, seawater,
water from dams on site or sourced from water treatment plants. About half of our water is seawater used in the
cooling of power stations. The source and quality of the water changes from operation to operation. At many sites,
we replace high quality (potable) water with poorer quality water to help conserve local water supplies.
Poor water 58%
Fresh water 42%
Fresh water: 42% Poor water: 58%
Imported ground

Improving our performance
Case study
Water floods Highway Number 1 in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, making the road impassable. This section of road connects Rio Tinto Iron Ore’s
Dampier Ports and Cape Lambert Port. Photo by Mervyn Coutinho.
Rio Tinto Iron Ore – managing water across the Pilbara
Rio Tinto Iron Ore’s
(RTIO) Australian
operations are located
in the Pilbara region
of Western Australia
and produce more than
180 million tonnes
of iron ore annually
with a network
of 11 mines, three
shipping terminals
and the largest
privately owned heavy
freight rail network
in Australia. The
landscape is arid with
little surface water
and experiences
severe droughts and
major floods.
The majority of water used
in the Pilbara is sourced
from groundwater, with
some of the West Pilbara
Water Supply Scheme being
sourced from Harding Dam.
Recharge occurs via cyclonic
rainfall events occurring
between November and
March each year. The
number and frequency of
cyclones and the amount
of water that they bring
varies annually. However,
the Pilbara’s aquifers are
significant, which has
a balancing effect on the
regional water resource.
While some of RTIO’s
mining areas rely on
borefields for their supply,
others are below the water
table and require large
volumes of groundwater
to be extracted to access
the orebody. Balancing
the demand and surplus
requirements across the
Pilbara presents a number
of water challenges
for RTIO.
On the coast, where
RTIO is the largest customer
of the West Pilbara Water
Supply Scheme, security
of supply presents
challenges as demand
increases from other
industrial operations, the
growing town of Karratha,
as well as RTIO’s own
port and town demands.
Inland, the operations are
remote and third party
demand for water is
virtually non-existent,
creating a new set of
challenges around
effective and efficient
use and management of
water resources and the
appropriate management
of surplus water from
dewatering activities.
RTIO has established a
specialist water resources
group to oversee water
management across the
Pilbara region. A water
management strategy has
been developed to help
understand and manage
the risks and opportunities
that come with managing
up to 80 gigalitres a year.
The strategy considers
regional, catchment and site
specific issues, as well as
the impacts that operations
can have on each other.
The strategy also takes into
account all those in the
region who use water and
how, as well as the seasonal
and cultural implications
in each location – including
the cultural and heritage
significance of water for
Traditional Owners.
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Improving our performance
In arid environments, water loss due to evaporation can present enormous challenges, with evaporation accounting for up to 60 to
70 per cent of lost water. Rio Tinto has developed an innovative and practical technology that can reduce water evaporation losses by
up to 90 per cent. The floating module sits semi-submerged on the water’s surface, preventing evaporation. Covering up to 90 per cent
of a water body’s surface – such as a dam or pond – the modules reduce evaporation while still allowing important sunlight penetration
and gas exchange within the water. The modules were successfully trialled at the Northparkes Mine in New South Wales, Australia.
They are now commercially manufactured by a third party and can also be used by farmers and communities.
Managing other issues
New projects
Rio Tinto is working to ensure water management
is considered in the early project planning stage,
well before construction begins. All new projects
must conform with the Rio Tinto water standard and
understand their water consumption and discharge
requirements from the very start, ie understand their
water balance, as explained on page nine.
Early investigation and development of a water
balance can avoid the over or under design of water
infrastructure – such as dams, pipelines, pumps – as
well as enable better operational water efficiencies.
This can provide large cost savings to a business.
Developing a water balance can help investigations
into a new project’s lifetime water supply and take into
account climate variability or reduced water supply.
It can also help to engage stakeholders in water related
social and community matters.
Water and climate change
A key part of Rio Tinto’s climate change programme
is for operations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Rio Tinto is implementing programmes that encourage
operations to understand and adapt to changes in
climate, such as increased or reduced rainfall. The
impact of climate change brings higher levels of
uncertainty and risk to available water supplies.
We need to understand how these are affected and
what the impact will be for our operations and nearby
communities. At the site level, the key tool to managing
water flows is the water balance. We are seeking ways
to incorporate more accurate climatic variations (such
as long term rainfall trends) into site water balance
predictions and are developing operational guidelines.
This is essential to ensuring an adequate water
supply for operations and projects and for designing
appropriate flood control measures.
Water and energy
Water and energy are intrinsically linked – water is
often needed to generate energy and energy is used
to supply and manage water. Energy is a fundamental
part of most operational water processes; it enables pit
dewatering, tailings flow, water treatment, water use
and recycling, dust suppression and desalination.
Water can form the basis of energy processes, such as
hydroelectricity generation and is an essential element
in the cooling of power stations. Often improving the
performance in one area can impact on performance
in the other. For example, treating water to improve its
quality can require significant amounts of energy.
A business must ensure that improvements to one
aspect do not negatively impact another. Rio Tinto
has set targets for energy, climate change and water
and our operations should understand that this
interrelationship is important.
When the mine closes
Rio Tinto requires all of our operations to have a
closure plan that identifies, characterises and mitigates
economic, social and environmental risks. If not
managed well, water can present significant technical
and engineering challenges when an operation closes.
These can include large and often long term liabilities,
such as acidic water leaking from an old mine and
polluting nearby rivers.
Rio Tinto currently manages a number of contamination
issues. One is at Kennecott Utah Copper, which operates
the world’s largest copper mine in Bingham Canyon,
Utah, US. Ground water contaminated from more than
100 years of mining (much of it predating Rio Tinto’s
involvement) is being cleaned up with support from
Kennecott Utah Copper. The business’s commitment
will continue after the mine closes.
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Improving our performance
Case study
The Flambeau mine during operations in 1996.
The reclaimed Flambeau mine in 2002. The site was rehabilitated
to meet the requests of local communities and authorities.
The Flambeau mine – meeting community expectations
The Flambeau mine,
operated by Kennecott
Minerals, was a short
term copper and
gold mining project,
operating between
1993 and 1997.
Located just south of
Ladysmith in northern
Wisconsin in the US,
the mine was less than
45 metres from the
Flambeau river — an
important recreation,
tourism, fishing and
wildlife habitat resource.
The protection of the
Flambeau was fundamental
to the success of the
project. Operating under
Wisconsin’s stringent
mining laws, the mine
undertook extensive
monitoring of groundwater,
surface water, waste water,
nearby wetlands and
aquatic ecology.
Long term monitoring
both upstream and
downstream is now proving
the river remains clean
and healthy. Testing also
shows ground water quality
surrounding the site is
as good as it was before
mining. Monitoring will
continue for 40 years
to ensure future ground
water protection.
Upon closing, the mine
site was rehabilitated
to meet the requests of
local communities and
authorities.
The open pit was backfilled
and prairie and woodland
habitat created, along
with more than ten acres
of wetlands. Hiking and
equestrian trails have been
created south of the site.
At the request of local
governments, 32 acres of
the site were set aside for
industrial use and leased
to the Ladysmith Industrial
Development Corporation.
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Improving our performance
Case study
The digestion units at Rio Tinto Alcan’s Yarwun alumina refinery, Queensland, Australia, are based on water efficient design. Process water and heat are stored
in tubes so they are not lost through dissipation.
Rio Tinto Alcan – planning for potential water shortage
During the 2003
drought conditions
experienced in
Gladstone, Australia,
one of the crisis
options considered
by Rio Tinto Alcan’s
Yarwun alumina
refinery was to retrofit
seawater cooling to
the cooling towers,
which consume a
significant proportion
of the operation’s fresh
water intake. Seawater
cooling is generally
more expensive due
to the high capital
requirements for
stainless steel piping
and pumps.
While the threat passed
when weather conditions
replenished the local
water supply, Rio Tinto
Alcan realised there was
a key lesson to be learnt.
As it was constructing a
new refinery in Gladstone
during the same period,
Rio Tinto Alcan considered
the prospect of future
droughts and the potential
for increasing water prices
— making seawater cooling
more cost-effective than
the use of fresh water.
Seawater is used for mixing
with and pumping solid
wastes instead of freshwater
resources.
The decision was made to
modify the design of the
new refinery’s water cooling
system — at a relatively low
cost of A$2.5 million — so
that the equipment needed
for seawater cooling could
be installed.
This significantly decreases
the lead time required to
make a switch to seawater
cooling should the need
arise, and also ensures that
there are no plant layout
issues associated with such
a retrofit.
The result of installing
the equipment is a refinery
facility that is more
adaptable to changes in
the external environment.
Rio Tinto Alcan’s
ongoing commitment
to water management
is underpinned by the
initiation of Queensland’s
largest water recycling
programme. This example
is located at our other
Gladstone refinery,
Queensland Alumina
Limited, which utilises
95 per cent of Gladstone’s
treated sewage effluent
within the refinery process,
instead of fresh water.
16

Improving our performance
Case study
Through an innovative approach to acid rock drainage management,
Kennecott Eagle protects groundwater and surface water resources including
the Salmon-Trout River, located approximately 775 metres up-gradient of
the mine surface facilities.
Water monitoring wells monitor ground water quality and elevation
and contribute to baseline hydrogeology studies at the Kennecott
Eagle Minerals project in Michigan, US.
Kennecott Eagle Minerals – protecting ground and surface water
The Kennecott Eagle
Minerals project is a
new development in
Marquette County,
northern Michigan,
US. The operation will
mine a rich deposit of
nickel sulphide using
longhole stoping — an
underground mining
technique.
Development rock —
non-ore bearing rock
drawn from underground
as the mine is built —
contains sulphide bearing
minerals. Development
rock needs to be stored
on the surface during the
project’s construction and
development, before being
used as backfill. As the
development period may
last several years, there is
a risk that ARD may occur.
Additionally, the
development rock will
be mixed with limestone
to neutralize the acid
potential and the entire
facility will be covered to
prevent precipitation from
contacting the development
rock — further reducing
the potential for ARD
generation.
All water collected from
the temporary development
rock storage area as well
as contact water from the
other operational areas
of the mine, including
underground dewatering
water, will be routed
through a state of the art
on site water treatment
plant, which will purify
contact water to better
than drinking water
quality standards.
Testing and monitoring
of the treated water
will be overseen by the
Michigan Department
of Environmental Quality.
The treated water will
be so pure, it will be
stored to avoid contact
and contamination from
rain water.
The water will be returned
to the environment via
a dispersion system that
slowly releases water over
a large area to accommodate
effective infiltration back
into the ground.
A significant challenge Management of the ARD
facing the project has risk has become a key
been the potential for priority for the project.
acid rock drainage (ARD). After extensive consultation
ARD occurs when rocks with the local community
By using this system,
containing sulphide to understand their
Kennecott safely and
minerals or metals are expectations and concerns,
effectively manages ARD
exposed to air and water, Kennecott is adopting a
and returns purified water
and over time, produce number of management
collected from the mining
dilute sulphuric acid. This approaches. For example,
operation back into the
can have damaging effects the temporary holding
environment.
on the environment, such area is a specially designed
as lowering the pH and double lined facility
increasing the metal, solids with leak detection and
and salt content of water collection systems for any
bodies and soils, making potential ARD.
the environment
uninhabitable for both
plants and animals.
17

Bathurst caribou herds migrate through the Diavik Diamond Mine region twice a year.
Understanding
the value of water
Most people appreciate that water has a value beyond what
it costs, but water valuation is often seen as just a matter
of price. The main way of valuing investment options at
operations is the use of an accounting methodology called
‘net present value’ (NPV).
This methodology calculates the present value of an
investment’s future cash flows, less the cost of the project
itself. However, this methodology generally doesn’t take
into account the non monetary values of water — such as
the social and environmental values — where cultural or
community amenity could be at stake.
18

The value of water
The Iron Ore Company of Canada has rehabilitated its tailings to create
wetlands, providing new habitats for native wildlife.
The different values of water
Society values water in different ways. The
cultural value an indigenous community may place
on a waterbody may not match that held by others.
Perceptions of water can change as conditions change.
In times of drought, communities, governments and
business place great importance on water conservation.
This concern often diminishes quickly following rains.
In addition, deciding the value of water at a particular
time can be difficult as the potential water supply
can fluctuate dramatically.
Rio Tinto is working to understand and include the
social, environmental and economic aspects of water
in its decision making. In mid 2005, Rio Tinto gathered
leading thinkers on water in Australia to debate how
such issues could best be managed. As a result, Rio Tinto
and the Sustainable Minerals Institute at the University
of Queensland worked together on a project to increase
and share understanding of the monetary and non
monetary values of water and how to incorporate such
values into decision making.
Working with an advisory committee comprising
representatives from industry, agriculture, conservation
and Rio Tinto businesses, the 18 month project
reviewed water valuation methodologies. The
committee prepared a number of case studies focused
on Rio Tinto water management and developed a
risk based valuation methodology to assist decisions
relating to water.
Approaches to valuing water
A simple framework has been developed to help assess
the level of threat or opportunity associated with
a difficult-to-value water issue. An example could
include a potentially impacted creek or spring that has
an important community recreational value. Another
could be the value derived for the environment if
a water saving technology was used by a mine. By
identifying risk and ways to mitigate it, we can estimate
the cost of managing the risk. We are currently looking
at incorporating these ideas in our existing risk
assessment processes.
Other approaches are also being developed by our
operations. Rio Tinto Alcan’s Weipa operation in
Northern Queensland, Australia, has developed a water
sourcing hierarchy that values the sustainability of
water taken from the deep Great Artesian Basin and
compares it to more easily recharged shallow sources
in the region. Another Rio Tinto business has calculated
the potential cost of lost production if the operation
faces cuts in water allocations, while yet another
has applied cost benefit analysis methodology — that
incorporates the social, environmental and economic
costs and benefits — to help determine which water
management options are the most sustainable in the
long term.
These projects are helping us to understand the
different values of water and how these values can be
incorporated into decision making and management
approaches. We will continue to work with others to
further develop these approaches.
19

The value of water
Valuing ecosystems services
Global ecosystems are under severe stress. Ecosystem
degradation is important to industry, as not only
does industry impact the environment, it also relies
on the services that ecosystems provide. For example,
ecosystems such as well managed river basins and
forests help to control run off and salinity, as well
as provide natural water purification processes and
increased water flows.
Increasingly, competition for these diminishing
resources is driving the emergence of green markets.
Putting a dollar value on the services that ecosystems
provide is not easy, with current economic models
incapable of adequately reflecting the true value
of natural capital in business decisions.
Rio Tinto owns large areas of land that act as a buffer
around its operational activities. The Group is currently
working with the IUCN (the International Union
for the Conservation of Nature) to investigate the
business case and methodologies around designing
and implementing ecosystem service offsets and
investments in these non operational assets. This has
the potential to generate value from the green markets,
which are developing in a number of countries.
Argyle Diamond’s Participation Agreement with Traditional Owners of the
East Kimberley region of Western Australia acknowledges the cultural
significance of the land, including seasonal flowing creeks and Boab tress.
David Thornley conducts water testing at Coal & Allied’s Mount Thorley
Warkworth operations in the Hunter Valley, Australia. Photo by Mike Curtain.
20

Argyle Diamonds – acknowledging and upholding
Traditional Owners’ rights
Rio Tinto’s Argyle
Diamonds mining
lease is in the
traditional country of
the Miriuwung, Gidja,
Malgnin and Woolah
Indigenous peoples,
in the East Kimberley
region of Western
Australia.
Within the lease area
lie a number of extremely
important traditional
cultural sites, including
Devil Devil Springs, which
dried up in the past as a
result of Argyle’s operations.
In 2004, the area's
Traditional Owners signed
a Participation Agreement
with Argyle that provides
a formal and binding
acknowledgement of
Traditional Owners' rights
and interests in the mining
lease area.
In essence, the agreement
recognises Traditional
Owners as the landlords
of the Argyle mining lease,
while recognising Argyle's
right to continue its current
mining operations and to
establish an underground
mining operation in
the future.
Water management is
of great importance to
Traditional Owners as water
is a precious resource in
the region. Traditional
Owners are concerned about
good stewardship of natural
resources generally, but
are concerned about water
because of the relationship
between groundwater and
significant ethnographic
sites on the mining lease.
During the agreement
process — where the impact
of the proposed additional
underground mine on
groundwater was discussed
— Traditional Owners
engaged a hydrogeologist
to independently review
the dewatering and
groundwater impact
modelling.
As a result of this
independent review,
Traditional Owners
and Argyle agreed that
additional water monitoring
bores would be installed.
These are fitted with
telemetry devices that
send data to a website,
which Traditional Owners
are able to monitor for
any groundwater impacts.
An annual inspection of
the operations is another
outcome of the Participation
Agreement, providing an
opportunity for Traditional
Owners to be regularly
assured about both the
efficiency of water use
and water quality at site.
A Traditional Owner
Relationship Committee —
comprising 26 Traditional
Owner representatives and
four Argyle representatives
— meets quarterly to jointly
monitor the implementation
of the Agreement, including
a specific management
plan put in place to manage
Devil Devil Springs.
Case studies
The value of water
Rio Tinto Coal Australia – responding to drought conditions
Rio Tinto Coal
Australia’s (RTCA) Coal
& Allied operations in
the Hunter Valley, New
South Wales, primarily
use water for coal
processing and dust
suppression.
Drought conditions and
resulting water shortages
have been significant issues
for the region, with water
shortages posing a potential
risk to production. RTCA has
responded by putting water
management programmes
in place for its three Hunter
Valley mines, designed to
improve water efficiency
and reduce fresh water
consumption.
Operations use a
combination of fresh, poor
quality and recycled water.
The aim is to minimise
the use of freshwater, so
that it is available for other
uses, and to maximise the
amount of poor quality
water that is used. On site,
water is being segregated
into different qualities
to enable greater water
recycling and to minimise
any contamination of
freshwater. Water that is
captured in the mining
pits is now being used in
preference to freshwater
wherever practicable.
Efforts to maximise use
of poor quality water have
been further improved
by the construction of
a large interconnecting
pipeline between two
of the operations.
This allows the transfer
of water between the
operations to meet peak
demands during extended
periods of dry weather
or drought.
In response to the drought
and in addition to recycling
efforts, the runoff from
undisturbed catchments
on the mining leases is
being diverted around the
mining areas and back
into natural watercourses
wherever practicable. Also,
excess mine water that
meets specific water quality
criteria is being discharged
back to the environment
in accordance with
environmental approvals.
In 2008 Coal & Allied’s
mining operations in the
Hunter Valley dramatically
reduced their consumption
of freshwater from the
Hunter River. The Hunter
Valley Operation mine
did not withdraw any
water from the Hunter
River and Mount Thorley
Warkworth mine withdrew
only 147 million litres from
the local river which was
significantly less than
its planned amount of
444 million litres. While
this reduction in freshwater
consumption was assisted
by higher rainfall than usual
in the second half of 2007,
the improvements in the
water management system
have also played a key
part in achieving such a
significant reduction.
21

April Pigalak and Travis Liske from a local community associated with the Diavik diamond mine in Canada contribute their
traditional knowledge in addressing fish palability as part of a water monitoring programme.
Engaging with others
For our water strategy to succeed, we need to have good
working relationships with those directly or indirectly affected
by our businesses.
Indigenous and other land owners, potentially affected
communities, governments, regulators, international, regional
and local non government organisations (NGOs), investors, the
scientific and financial communities, as well as employees, all
have interests and concerns to which Rio Tinto must respond.
Engagement helps us understand issues and priorities and
develop programmes and actions that deal with the things
that matter to our stakeholders.
22

Community water supply
and sanitation
Communities require an adequate supply of clean water.
Increasingly, Rio Tinto is working in locations where
access to clean drinking water and adequate sanitation
is an issue for neighbouring communities, particularly
in developing countries. Operations require a healthy
workforce and a supportive community to work
successfully in these environments.
If Rio Tinto’s operations have fresh water, but
neighbouring community supplies are insufficient or
contaminated, then there is a risk for Rio Tinto. Our
QMM mineral sands operation in Madagascar is a good
example of working with the World Bank and the local
water authority to provide a clean water supply to
communities (see page 26).
We are currently developing guidelines around water
and communities for Rio Tinto projects and operations.
The guidelines will help operations understand the risks
and opportunities in community water and sanitation
initiatives and will be supported by case examples of
good practice. This approach will help Rio Tinto support
the United Nations Millennium Development Goals,
which include halving the number of people without
safe drinking water and adequate sanitation by 2015.
Engagement with government
and industry
As water is not an issue for Rio Tinto alone, it
is important to work with other businesses and
governments on water related policy issues. In Australia,
Rio Tinto is supporting the National Water Initiative
that is reforming the way water is managed
by, among other things, developing water markets.
Rio Tinto works with other mining companies and
the Australian Government to provide information
and work on research opportunities for industry water
issues. Among the initiatives being undertaken
is the development of industry wide water metrics.
World Economic Forum
water initiative
The World Economic Forum (WEF) is undertaking
a major water initiative that brings together a diverse
group of stakeholders to address key areas. These areas
include raising awareness of global water challenges
and finding ways to leverage the competencies
of international business to help meet those water
challenges. Rio Tinto has joined the project’s board
and sees membership as an opportunity to learn from
other leading companies and to participate in the water
debate. It is also an opportunity to share knowledge
acquired over the past ten years.
Working on internal collaboration
Rio Tinto has developed a number of approaches to
help its businesses and operations implement leading
practice on water management. One of the key
approaches has been the establishment of a central,
specialised team with expertise in water management.
The Rio Tinto water team is responsible for building
business support programmes — tools, processes, case
studies, reference materials and checklists — that can be
used by operations and new projects to manage water
risks and opportunities.
It also provides tailored advice and consulting
services to new projects and existing operations and
has expertise in: business water strategies; water
management practices; tailings and waste management;
mine dewatering; site remediation; groundwater
exploration; hydrogeology; water balances; water
supply; and geotechnics. Other approaches taken to
encourage collaboration have included regional water
meetings for operations and the development of
a Group wide internal water forum.
Engaging with others
Rio Tinto has also led government-industry working
groups to develop best practice guidance on water.
One outcome is a water management framework
for the Australian Ministerial Council on Mineral
and Petroleum Resources and the Minerals Council
of Australia, and a leading practice guide for water
management for the Australian mining industry,
developed in partnership with the Australian
Government.
23

Engaging with others
Case study
The water treatment facility at Resolution Copper, Arizona, US, has been built to treat the extracted water
that has naturally accumulated in an old mine shaft.
Resolution Copper – managing today’s excess water
to ensure future availability
The Resolution Copper
project is located near
Superior, Arizona,
US. The large world
class copper resource
lies more than 1.5
kilometres below the
surface, adjacent to
but deeper than an old
mine that was closed
in the mid 1990s.
To undertake further
exploration and begin
development of the planned
new mine, almost nine
billion litres of water that
naturally accumulated in
the old mine will need to
be removed.
A water treatment facility
has been constructed
to prepare the water for
discharge once it is pumped
to the surface — draining
the old mine could take
up to two years. But the
bigger challenge has been
determining where the
removed ground water
should go once treated,
to ensure the water
resources in an arid Arizona
environment is fully utilised
and the environment is not
negatively impacted.
Resolution Copper is
working with the New
Magma Irrigation and
Drainage District (NMIDD)
to supply the extracted
water for agricultural
use in Arizona. The project
involves the construction of
a 44km pipeline to transport
the water from Resolution’s
treatment facility in
Superior to Magma Junction.
NMIDD will combine this
water with Central Arizona
Project (CAP) water to
irrigate cotton, alfalfa and
Bermuda rye grass. CAP
delivers renewable water
from the Colorado River
by canal to central and
southern Arizona so surface
water can be used instead
of depleting groundwater
for agricultural, municipal
and industrial uses.
Resolution is also working
with NMIDD and the
Hohokam Irrigation and
Drainage District to store
water for processing the
ore and cooling the mine
in the future. Resolution
is purchasing and ‘banking’
excess CAP water with
the irrigation districts for
future use, minimising its
impact on water supply.
Purchasing and banking
began in 2006 and will
continue as long as CAP
has excess water available.
In the past, Resolution has
purchased enough water
to meet approximately
six years’ worth of mining
production requirements.
In 2009 Resolution will
purchase nearly five years
of production requirements.
Because excess CAP water
will not always be available
for purchase, Resolution
Copper is also exploring
additional long term sources
of sustainable water to meet
the needs of operations.
24

Engaging with others
Case study
The Diavik diamond mine is surrounded by the waters of Lac de Gras in Canada’s Northwest Territories. Lac de Gras
forms part of the headwaters of the Coppermine River, which flows north to the Arctic coast.
Diavik diamond mine – working with communities
The Diavik diamond
mine is located on a
20 square kilometre
island in Lac de Gras
in the Northwest
Territories of Canada.
Operating since
2003, Diavik presents
enormous engineering
and environmental
challenges.
To mine its kimberlite ore,
located under the shallow
waters of Lac de Gras,
Diavik had to construct
dikes to temporarily hold
back the water and expose
the lake bottom to allow
open pit mining to proceed.
The mine is located 300
kilometres northeast of
Yellowknife, in the subarctic
zone of the Canadian
tundra, where temperatures
can often dip below
minus 40.
More than one third of
the Northwest Territories
is covered by lakes and
rivers and in spite of its
apparent abundance, water
is considered a precious
resource, especially by
Aboriginal people.
It provides habitat for much
of the wildlife that is critical
to the traditional lifestyles
of local communities. The
water in Lac de Gras is
almost as pure as distilled
water, but nevertheless
supports several species of
fish, among them lake trout,
whitefish, arctic grayling,
and cisco. During mining,
Diavik is building fish
habitat in areas between the
dikes and the open pits. The
dikes themselves form fish
habitat and when the mine
closes, there will be no net
loss of fish habitat. To
protect the lake, Diavik has
a water collection and
treatment system.
The heart of the system
is the mine’s water
treatment plant which
removes suspended
solids. In preparation for
underground mining that
will follow depletion of
the open pit, the plant’s
capacity is being doubled.
In 2007, the community
based Wekeezhii Land
and Water Board,
established under the
Tlicho Land Claims and
Self-Government
Agreement, renewed
Diavik’s water licence. The
renewed licence, covering
eight years, was the first
issued by the new board.
The licence outlines
regular water sampling,
known as the surveillance
network programme, and
other sampling, known
as the aquatic effects
monitoring programme,
which is comprised of many
sampling programmes. In
all, over 2000 water samples
are collected yearly. In
addition to aquatic and
fisheries sampling, Diavik
also monitors vegetation
and studies various
wildlife including caribou,
waterfowl, raptor, wolverine,
and grizzly bear.
Diavik has entered
into an Environmental
Agreement with local
Aboriginal people and
the federal and territorial
governments that formalises
its environmental protection
commitments and provides
transparency and oversight
to local communities.
Under the agreement,
an Environmental
Monitoring Advisory
Board has been established,
with representatives
from community,
government, and Diavik,
with the mandate to make
recommendations about
the effectiveness of Diavik’s
approach to environmental
management, including
water issues.
The board was instrumental
in helping Diavik undertake
a fish palatability study
to provide baseline
information regarding the
quality and health of fish
in Lac de Gras. This study
took place with Aboriginal
elders and Diavik scientists,
demonstrating how
scientific and traditional
knowledge can be
integrated.
The scientific results
mirrored the baseline
data collected by Diavik
during its environmental
assessment, conducted
from 1995 through 1998,
and indicated that there
was no change in fish
health. For this study,
and for other studies
including caribou and water
quality monitoring, Diavik
constructed a seasonal
camp on the lake’s shores
just a short distance from
the mine.
25

Engaging with others
Case study
Jean Jacques, Birdlife Madagascar, leads a group of schoolchildren birdwatching in a conservation zone in Madagascar.
QMM works with the community to support a number environmental initiatives. Rio Tinto has a global partnership with
Birdlife International, focussing on biodiversity conservation.
QMM – developing partnerships for mutual benefit
Near the town of
Fort Dauphin, in
southern Madagascar,
QMM Madagascar
Minerals SA (QMM) is
developing the initial
phase of its mineral
sands mining project.
Madagascar is a global
biodiversity ‘hotspot’ with
very high diversity and
a number of endemic and
threatened species and
habitats. The country
is characterised by high
poverty, high rural
populations, subsistence
agriculture, and low levels
of industry — it is ranked
as one of the world’s
poorest countries.
Water management in
the region is a significant
issue. Fort Dauphin has
a population of around
50,000 people, but water
infrastructure is in disrepair
and around 90 per cent
of the population does
not have ready access to
potable water. QMM’s
water requirements and
the expected growth of the
town due to the project
development cannot be
supported by the existing
infrastructure.
While the project is able
to contribute funds and
engineering expertise, it is
not a sustainable solution
for the region for QMM to
perform the role of a water
service provider to the town.
QMM therefore initiated
a consultative process
resulting in a collaborative
partnership with the World
Bank and JIRAMA (the local
service provider) to upgrade
and extend the town supply
and reticulation.
Under the agreement the
town supply line is being
replaced, with a new
treatment plant being
constructed by QMM.
The World Bank will assist
with both financing and
engineering to upgrade
the town’s reticulation and
distribution network, and
operation by JIRAMA has
been formally agreed. QMM
will also assist with the
training and management
of the treatment facilities.
Other QMM initiatives for
water management in the
region include provision
of water supply wells
to communities beyond
the supply scheme, and
a whole-of-catchment
approach to conservation,
biodiversity and water
resource management.
26

The Iron Ore Company of Canada’s disused Lorraine Pit
is now filled with water.
Case study
Engaging with others
The Iron Ore Company of Canada is undertaking a project to restore
Wabush Lake’s water colour and recover fish habitats.
Iron Ore Company of Canada – changing tailings
practices to minimise impact
The Iron Ore Company
of Canada (IOC)
operates a mine in
western Labrador,
Canada, in an area
of valuable native
ecosystems, including
an extensive system
of lakes, wetlands and
boreal forests.
For more than 40 years,
IOC discharged up to
23 millions tonnes of finely
ground rock tailings into
Wabush Lake. Although in
compliance with regulatory
requirements at the time
(the tailing is an inert and
non toxic mixture of rock
and sand) the tailings
was having a significant
effect on the physical and
biological balance of
the lake.
Over the years, it had
created a phenomenon
the locals call “red water”,
which although harmless,
was seen as unsightly and
reduced the amount of light
that reached lake flora
and fauna.
In response to internal and
community concerns, as
well as regulatory changes,
IOC considered a number
of options to minimise
the tailing impact on the
lake and surrounding
environment. After
extensive consultation
with community, federal
and provincial governments,
the decision was made to
change the way tailing was
discharged into the lake
by using flocculation, which
contains the tailings in a
specific area of the lake and
gets rid of the red colour of
the water — thus recovering
lost fish habitat.
By taking a creative
approach with the
rehabilitation of the tailing,
new land forms and a
wetland are being created
across the disposal area and
are planted with a diverse
variety of local vegetation.
Low lying areas form a
mosaic of wetland basins,
riparian zones and uplands,
providing a variety of
habitats for native wildlife.
A major engineering and
construction project has
created a meandering
stream and associated
grasslands, enhancing fish
and waterfowl habitats.
As the rehabilitation work
continues, over the next
40 years, thousands of
hectares of “new habitat”
will be developed. IOC
anticipates that the artificial
wetland will not only
contribute to biodiversity
conservation but also
minimise operational costs
and maximise the options
for post-closure land use.
Early estimates of the costs
of wetlands indicate that
the project will be either
cost neutral or cheaper than
traditional revegetation.
The project has broken
new ground in Canadian
environmental stewardship
by incorporating
wetlands, biodiversity
and conservation on an
operational mine site.
In 2005, IOC received
the Great Blue Heron
national award from the
North American Waterfowl
Management Plan. This
award acknowledges plan
participants who have
made significant, long term
contributions that result
in benefits to waterfowl
and other migratory
bird populations of
North America.
27

Iceland
Norway
Canada
United Kingdom
Mongolia
United States
France
Oman
India
Guinea
Ghana
Cameroon
Peru
Indonesia
Chile
Namibia
Zimbabwe
South Africa
Madagascar
Australia
New Zealand
Major operations and projects
Future challenges
Since 2005, Rio Tinto has taken a strategic approach
to the way we manage water. Rio Tinto has delivered
a Group wide water framework that sets expectations
for water management and encourages engagement
with other water users. It has also developed tools and
guidance to support operations in improving water
management.
While we have made progress over the past three years,
we recognise the significant work ahead especially as
the world continues to suffer water stress. Our focus for
the next three years will be to:
• Continue implementation of the water strategy to
improve performance across operations.
• Develop business level water strategies to manage
local and regional water risks and opportunities.
• Create opportunities to support community
water supply.
• Create value associated with ecosystem services.
• Share experiences, learn from others, contribute
to water discussion and debate at the local, national
and international levels.
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For more information
about Rio Tinto and
our environmental and
community programmes
visit www.riotinto.com

Rio Tinto Limited
120 Collins Street
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia
T +61 (0) 3 9283 3333
www.riotinto.com
Rio Tinto plc
2 Eastbourne Terrace
London
W2 6LG
United Kingdom
T +44 (0) 20 7781 2000
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