Project Design Principles

  • To ensure existing flows are maintained within neighbouring streams and tributaries surface water runoff from undistributed areas will be maintained where possible. Sustainable urban drainage principles will be adopted to ensure surface flows are reduced before entering a water course
  • To reduce the need to take water from rivers, we will harvest by capturing rainfall and surface water runoff from within historic and operational mining areas. We understand that capturing this rainwater may impact baseflow in rivers and we will reuse water to reduce our water needs and provide compensated flows if required
  • We will use a number of treatment steps to aid mineral extraction from water, similar to those already used at Imerys' kaolin operations such as filter presses, condensers and treatment facilities. To ensure the water quality of our rivers is maintained, when discharging surplus water, we will treat it by conditioning and removing fine sediments. Water discharges will be released through monitored and permitted points
  • We will prioritise reusing water from the tailings and mineral extraction residue facilities

Water Stewardship Framework

We will follow best practice and establish a Water Stewardship Framework.
The framework recognises that water connects our operation to the surrounding landscape and communities and provides guidance on responsible water management practices to be adopted ensuring the needs, concerns and priorities of all water users across an entire catchment are understood.

  • Engage and collaborate with other water catchment users to understand their needs and priorities, share plans on managing risks
  • Transparent public reporting on water usage, quality and other material water aspects of concern
  • Identifying opportunities to improve efficiencies in the use of water (e.g. by maximising water recycling and reuse within our operations)

Gaining knowledge of our water

We have already started a number of investigative surveys and these will be continued on the project area, to gain a better understanding of groundwater and surface water behaviour and quality. 

This will require the installation of measuring points spread over the project areas, this gathered information will be used in conjunction with the extensive existing knowledge from Imerys' kaolin operations to assess the potential impact of the operations on both water quantity and quality. 

We intend to commence the drilling and installation of groundwater monitoring early in 2026.


 

Frequently Asked Questions

Your Questions about water

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How do you manage water usage and contamination in your production process?

As our unique process uses minimal chemicals, we can recycle water easily back into the process, and we will only release fully treated water

Does the lithium project use a lot of water or impact local water supplies?

The proposed lithium operation recycles all the water it uses, with a small net demand. Imerys has significant water supplies across its estate meaning it does not draw from public resources.
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