UN Global Compact  |  CEO Water Mandate

Great Britain Colombia Brazil

Managing Water Quality at Old Copper Mine Site

<% join_label %>

Managing Water Quality at Old Copper Mine Site

Show Full Map
Amazon
Area: 5888268 km2
Countries:
Brazil; Peru; Suriname; France; Colombia; Guyana; Bolivia; Venezuela; Ecuador
Cities:
Santa Cruz; Manaus; La Paz
PFAF ID:
HydroBasin Level:
Baseline Water Stress:
Water Quality Stress:
Sanitation Access Stress:
Click to view individual basin.
Location
Click Icon to Show on Map
City & Country
,
()

Quick Info

Countries: Canada
Basins: --
Project SDGs:
Includes Sustainable Development Goals from the project and its locations.
Water Quality (SDG 6.3)
Protect and Restore Ecosystems (SDG 6.6)
Project Tags:
Includes tags from the project and its locations.
Nature-Based Solutions
Progress to Date: 100 Percent water quality compliance achieved
Services Needed: Monitoring & evaluation
Desired Partner: Business
Language: English
Start & End Dates: Jan. 01, 2004  »  Ongoing
Project Website: www.bhp.com/community/case-studies/2018/08/long-term-water-q...
Project Source: CEO Water Mandate
Profile Completion: 69%

Project Overview

This project demonstrated innovative design in treating acidic drainage to reclaim disturbed lands. When water quality in the pit lake threatened to degrade beyond regulatory compliance levels in 2004, BHP undertook an innovative in-lake water management system, called the Middle Layer Lifting System, to ensure water discharged from the site meets our environmental obligations. The surrounding landscape was also rehabilitated to help manage mine drainage. Waste rock dumps w…

Read More

This project demonstrated innovative design in treating acidic drainage to reclaim disturbed lands. When water quality in the pit lake threatened to degrade beyond regulatory compliance levels in 2004, BHP undertook an innovative in-lake water management system, called the Middle Layer Lifting System, to ensure water discharged from the site meets our environmental obligations. The surrounding landscape was also rehabilitated to help manage mine drainage. Waste rock dumps were re-contoured and capped with soil, and more than 500,000 trees were planted. This has encouraged the return of wildlife to the area, including elk and deer. Island CopperÕs engineered pit lake and overall site closure has significantly reduced the cost of treatment and proved effective in reducing the risk of environmental impact. It has also highlighted the importance of the interrelationship between the physical and biological characteristics of a pit lake. The lessons from this experience are now being applied in the design and management of other mining pit lakes more broadly and the site has been recognised publicly for its environmental management and innovation.

Partner Organizations


To bring people and resources together to build a better world. Learn More


   Loading Lessons