Water Stewardship
Water is a shared resource—precious, finite, and fundamental to life. It holds social, cultural, environmental, and economic significance, and its availability underpins ecosystems, livelihoods, and spiritual practices across the globe.
Yet water is under growing pressure. Industrialisation, urban expansion, climate change and population growth are accelerating demand and degrading supply. Today, 1.2 billion people live in areas of water scarcity. By 2030, experts warn that global demand could outstrip supply by as much as 40%.
For an industry as water-intensive as mining, the stakes are high. In 2020, water scarcity was identified by investors as the greatest risk facing the sector (Fitch Ratings). Mining operations depend on a secure, long-term water supply—but they also influence the quality and availability of water within local catchments. This interconnectedness demands a more transparent, inclusive and strategic approach to water management.
Adopting a catchment-based approach
Effective water stewardship requires collaboration—across governments, communities, civil society and the private sector. Mining companies, as major water users, have a critical role to play in managing this resource responsibly and equitably.
ICMM’s Water Stewardship Framework supports members in doing just that. It offers practical guidance based on a catchment-based approach—looking beyond site boundaries to understand the needs and concerns of all water users in the wider area, including households, ecosystems, industries and agriculture.
This approach recognises that access to water is not just an operational issue—it’s a social and environmental imperative. Even the most efficient mine can face risks if the needs of others in the catchment are overlooked. Overlapping demands, if poorly managed, can lead to scarcity, conflict and reputational damage.
Instead, a catchment-based strategy encourages companies to engage early, build partnerships, and contribute to system-wide solutions that benefit all water users.
How the framework works in practice
ICMM’s guidance walks mining companies through a step-by-step process to identify, evaluate and respond to water-related risks at the catchment level. These may include:
- Flooding and drought.
- Water system reliability.
- Pollution.
- Institutional capacity gaps.
- Rising costs of access and treatment.
The guidance also supports companies in working with stakeholders—clarifying their concerns and building mutual understanding. It promotes meaningful consultation, not just compliance, and encourages companies to embed stewardship into business decision-making.
Why it matters
A catchment-based approach delivers benefits for both mining companies and the communities they impact.
It increases transparency—giving local people and other water users a say in how resources are managed. It strengthens accountability and helps build trust. And most importantly, it supports collective risk reduction across the entire system.
This approach can help:
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Improve how water is allocated and managed
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Support more efficient and equitable use
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Contribute to long-term water security and sanitation outcomes
Driving accountability through water reporting
Transparency isn’t just about engaging communities—it’s about tracking progress and holding the industry to account.
Water-dependent industries face growing scrutiny, especially in water-stressed regions. That’s why effective reporting is a key part of ICMM’s water stewardship approach.
While frameworks like CDP, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), and the CEO Water Mandate have driven progress, many fall short in reflecting the specific water risks and responsibilities of mining. ICMM has worked with stakeholders to close this gap—developing minimum disclosure requirements now mandatory for members.
These requirements go beyond volume metrics. They focus on context, risk, and materiality—helping companies report on what matters most in the places where they operate.
Transparent reporting supports informed decision-making and fosters public trust. It also plays a vital role in demonstrating how the industry contributes to global goals—including SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.
By managing water responsibly at site level and collaborating with others across the wider catchment, the mining and metals industry can become a force for good in a world facing growing water insecurity. Stewardship is not only the right thing to do—it’s essential for long-term resilience, legitimacy and shared value.
