Water resource management and monitoring

Throughout the year, our environmental teams collect samples (water and sediment) to ensure the health of our downstream receiving environment and in compliance with the site’s Environmental Authority.

The team conducts water monitoring for three types of programs, including the Receiving Environmental Monitoring Plan (REMP), Groundwater Monitoring and Onsite Containment System Monitoring.

The REMP involves frequent waterway monitoring and sampling to ensure our aquatic ecosystems remain healthy. During the monitoring activities, the team records visual observations (colour, odour, presence of wildlife or aquatic life) and takes in field readings such as pH, electrical conductivity, and dissolved oxygen. The team also collects water samples that are sent away for analysis providing data on metal and nutrient levels in the environment.

In the wet season, the team conducts event-based sampling to analyse the catchment's performance during flow periods. Additionally, biannual collections of sediment and macroinvertebrate (water bugs) samples are undertaken to aid in assessing the aquatic ecosystem.

The objective of Groundwater Monitoring is to evaluate the quality of water beneath the ground surface within the surrounding aquifers. Our teams utilise pumping units to gather routine samples from bore sites distributed across our lease and neighboring community areas. Comparable to REMP practices, our teams document observations, conduct in-field measurements, and dispatch samples for detailed analysis.

Onsite Containment System Monitoring is conducted to guarantee that any precipitation occurring within specified 'contaminated' zones of our operational areas is contained and managed onsite, preventing it from reaching the downstream receiving environment. The onsite teams conduct inspections of containment systems, including water storages and pipelines, to verify proper water flow, that pumps are operational and that water levels remain low in the approved storage dams.

Throughout the wet season, Glencore's Environmental and Operational teams are heavily engaged in controlling stormwater to mitigate the risk of site discharge.

Morgan Postle, Senior Environmental Advisor for Mount Isa Mines says a typical day for an environmental advisor can change at the drop of a hat.

“During the wet season, the Environment team comes to work not knowing what the day will hold. It might entail scheduled desk work and meetings but could quickly switch to fieldwork and inspections following rainfall, requiring us to collect water samples or assess containment systems at a moment's notice."

Despite the busy pace, there's nothing quite like being the first to witness a water hole filled for the season or experiencing the transformation of the region as it bursts into shades of red and green,” says Morgan.

Did you know? Our Environmental team conducts:

• 3,300+ water samples collected for testing each year across our north Queensland operations
• 40+ sample sites for surface water monitoring across our north Queensland operations
• 318 sample bores for groundwater monitoring across our north Queensland operations
• ~105 water management structures onsite at Mount Isa Mines
• 2 automated sampling sites at Townsville Copper Refinery and 9 at the Port Operations
• 7 runoff management sumps to capture, treat and recycle water at Townsville Port
• 4 water management structures onsite at Lady Loretta Mine
• 8 automated sampling sites at Lady Loretta Mine