As mining grows in remote WA, experts are working to ensure there is enough water.

Kalgoorlie-Boulder, a historic mining city, relies heavily on water for commercial use, but the current mining boom is stretching supplies.

Water sourced from underground bores in the Goldfields contains extremely high salt levels, making local desalination impractical. So, new water sources are urgently needed.

This water shortage is constraining growth in the region, just as the demand for critical minerals diversifies the local economy beyond gold mining. 

The $3 billion Kalgoorlie Nickel Project, for instance, requires substantial water resources for its processing plant.

Laurence Dyer, a researcher at Curtin University, is exploring treatment methods for dirty water sources, aiming to make water suitable for industrial use, rather than drinking.
In a recent project, Dr Dyer used nanofiltration technology to make water suitable for separating valuable minerals from ores and to reduce the environmental impact.

He tested different membranes to see which worked best for removing calcium, magnesium, sodium, sulphate, and chloride ions from the water.

Nanofiltration is a more cost-effective and energy-efficient method compared to some traditional methods like reverse osmosis. It can help make mining more sustainable and less harmful to the environment.

The research can help the mining industry use water more efficiently and reduce its impact on the environment, and Dr Dyer believes the potential benefits are enormous and could determine the fate of billion-dollar projects.

The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder has also found ways to capitalise on water. 

It has long used treated effluent to irrigate parks and gardens, resulting in significant water recycling. Still, reports say it is struggling with the town's growth.

In the 2022-23 financial year, the city generated $3.02 million from selling recycled water to industrial users, falling short of budget expectations. However, continued sales at these rates could yield $60 million over the next two decades.

One of the major customers of the city's recycled water is rare earths miner Lynas, which uses the water at its $730 million refinery in West Kalgoorlie.

This strategy has helped the city's finances significantly, with recycled water sales contributing approximately 20 per cent to its annual revenue forecasts until 2039-40. 

An independent review of the city's water supply contracts is currently underway to address public confusion and clarify the terms of these agreements.