The Upper Hunter Mining Dialogue has released its 2024 Water Accounting Framework report, highlighting that the mining industry accounted for just 2.6% of water extracted from the Hunter River system last year.
The report shows that 2024 was a slightly wetter than average year, with about 349 gigalitres of water entering the river system in the Upper Hunter. Of this, 76% remained in the river and flowed past Singleton, while around 22% was used by farmers, residents and local businesses.
Other key findings from the report include:
- The mining industry reused 41% of its water onsite.
- Most of the water used by the mining industry was sourced from onsite rainfall and runoff (42%) or deep aquifers (26%) that have limited use to other water users due to the high salinity.
- 9% of water inflow to mines came from rivers and alluvial aquifers.
- Slightly wetter conditions in 2024 allowed companies to safely discharge 2.7 gigalitres of excess water back into the Hunter River system.
The Dialogue has been tracking water inflows and outflows from mining operations in the Upper Hunter since 2014, using a consistent accounting framework. This work supports improved water management and encourages water-saving and reuse opportunities across the industry.
“Water is a precious shared resource in the Upper Hunter, and this data helps provide important context about how much is used by different sectors,” said John Watson, Chair of the Mining Dialogue.
“While mining plays a significant role in the local economy, its share of water use is comparatively small, and companies continue to invest in recycling and efficiency measures.”
| The full 2024 Water Accounting Report and long-term water use trends are available on the Dialogue website: miningdialogue.com.au |
