Sustainable Management of Mine Induced Water

Water is an essential part of mining industries. Fresh water is needed in different stages of mining activities. Mine induced water (MIW), water generated by different mining activities, contains harmful ingredients which cannot be reused or disposed without proper treatment. While the amount of water used by different mining industries varies depending on the type of mining product, so do the characteristics and amount of MIW. For example, the amount and characteristics of MIW generated from coal mining is very different than the characteristics of MIW generated from metal mining operations. The characterisation of MIW is also essential to devise a proper management, treatment and reuse scheme. In this chapter, characterisation and quantification of MIW from different activities in coal and metal mining are reviewed. Then impacts of MIW on the environment are identified. Later, different available options are discussed to sustainably manage the quality of MIW from different mining activities.