What about water? Mining companies are stepping in to protect Africa’s most precious resource

Africa’s most precious commodity is under severe strain. Water infrastructure is failing, and industrially polluted water is pouring into rivers and groundwater.

Across the continent, governments and local communities are increasingly expecting large industries that rely on water for production to implement long‑term water management strategies. In addition to the many practical advantages of managing water sustainably, changes to the private sector's approach to water management are also being guided by regulatory reform and new environmental standards.

Now, the private sector – and mining companies in particular – is stepping in to assist governments to treat wastewater, upgrade local municipal systems, and supply communities with clean water.

South Africa’s water crisis

Wastewater treatment is a major issue in South Africa. Green Drop’s 2025 report outlined a strong decline in wastewater management, critical infrastructure and water quality, mostly due to underinvestment and lack of capacity.

Overall water use in the country is also too high. According to the Institute for Security Studies, South Africans use more water than the global average, with a per capita consumption higher than the ballpark average of 173 litres per person per day. 

Enter the mining sector

The mining sector in South Africa has already begun implementing innovative new processes to manage, treat and reuse contaminated water. Mining companies are helping to stabilise or supplement failing municipal systems, particularly where municipal wastewater treatment plants have collapsed or there is no technical capacity to repair the issues. 

The sector has also been instrumental in implementing renewable energy infrastructure and solutions across the region, and this offers a powerful example of the corollary impact that coordinated private‑sector investment can achieve.

In addition to infrastructure upgrades, innovative digital water monitoring systems such as supervisory control and data acquisition systems, are being funded to facilitate water treatment.

Mpumalanga’s coal belt is a good example of where this approach is working well. Water treatment facilities capable of processing millions of litres of contaminated water per day are being built, with a significant portion of this purified water then provided to local municipalities to boost their potable supply. The remaining purified water is treated according to the standards required for safe discharge.

Similarly, mine wastewater treatment plants near old opencast mines are collecting, treating and discharging reclaimed water from nearby mining operations, also at a rate of millions of litres of water per day. These types of projects reduce demand on freshwater sources and stop contaminated water from entering local rivers.

Phased, multi-decade water management strategies are also being rolled out in areas of high mine water use. These projects reveal the shift in focus of mining companies from investing in short‑term operational water needs to addressing the post‑closure impact such industries have on regional water supply.

Water strategies that extend beyond the life of mine ensure that communities are not left with contaminated water sources or unfunded treatment liabilities when the final load has been lifted from the ground.

Supported by private investment and specialist water‑treatment technology partners, these projects demonstrate how collaboration between the public and private sectors can assist in recovering vital water infrastructure in the country.

The implementation of closed-loop, single-miner solutions is also proving to be a self-sustainable and cost-effective way to reduce the use of freshwater by recycling and reusing processed mine water. 

The many positives

There are many positives for privately funded water projects. Addressing legacy issues around water management, especially in regions with old mines and large contaminated water volumes, results in cost savings and new opportunities to increase water supply for further use. Such investments also contribute to the social licence to operate and provide potential financial incentives, especially if standards for water-related credits (similar to carbon credits) are developed down the line.

Forward-thinking mines are already documenting the benefits of augmenting governments’ water treatment and water supply capacity. Mines are exploring and implementing initiatives that not only solve their own water problems, but also benefit the Government and surrounding communities. Depending on the structuring, these initiatives can also provide new sources of financial revenue for the mine and leverage the advantages of public-private collaboration.

By investing in water treatment, recycling and supply infrastructure, the mining industry is supporting communities and strengthening environmental resilience. These solutions also benefit the mines through the financial implications of better long-term water management, all the while easing the intense pressure on governments by boosting water infrastructure and treatment capacity.

The mining sector is increasingly proving essential to the safeguarding of the continent’s most precious resources – its water.

Alessandra Pardini is Head of Projects, Energy and Infrastructure, based in the Johannesburg office of Bowmans, She has been ranked as a Market Leader for Energy by IFLR1000 Women Leaders Guide the past three years. Mongezi Dladla is a partner in the Johannesburg office who specialises in energy and infrastructure projects, with expertise in large scale utility agreements on the private and public sector sides. He was named a Rising Star in 2025 by IFLR1000.