Version 1
: Received: 6 October 2023 / Approved: 9 October 2023 / Online: 9 October 2023 (14:43:32 CEST)
How to cite:
Arenas-Collao, K.; Valdés-González, H. The Hydrological Impacts of Large-Scale Mining Operations: A Social and Environmental Perspective. Preprints2023, 2023100492. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202310.0492.v1
Arenas-Collao, K.; Valdés-González, H. The Hydrological Impacts of Large-Scale Mining Operations: A Social and Environmental Perspective. Preprints 2023, 2023100492. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202310.0492.v1
Arenas-Collao, K.; Valdés-González, H. The Hydrological Impacts of Large-Scale Mining Operations: A Social and Environmental Perspective. Preprints2023, 2023100492. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202310.0492.v1
APA Style
Arenas-Collao, K., & Valdés-González, H. (2023). The Hydrological Impacts of Large-Scale Mining Operations: A Social and Environmental Perspective. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202310.0492.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Arenas-Collao, K. and Héctor Valdés-González. 2023 "The Hydrological Impacts of Large-Scale Mining Operations: A Social and Environmental Perspective" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202310.0492.v1
Abstract
This study investigates water consumption in two areas with limited water resources – the Salar de Atacama and Salar de Atacama-Vertiente Pacifico basins in Chile's Antofagasta Region – with the aim of developing strategies that incorporate social and environmental aspects into water management. A qualitative approach was employed that involved a focus group with four water management representatives and surveys of the general population (156 responses). Additionally, the current state of water rights in the basins was examined and the feasibility of the proposed strategies was assessed. The findings reveal that the mining industry's development approach is viewed negatively, mainly due to inadequate community engagement, confidential consumption data, and limited government oversight. Adopting a comprehensive water stewardship approach that considers social and environmental factors would help mitigate the adverse effects of mining on communities. Therefore, improved management and transparent collaboration among stakeholders are essential for responsible water resource use in mining.
Keywords
Sustainability; Communities; Engagement; Social perspectives; Water stewardship
Subject
Engineering, Mining and Mineral Processing
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
