Turning Wastewater into Opportunity
Let's start talkingSmarter Water Management, Higher Productivity
With water scarcity intensifying and environmental regulations tightening, mining operations face substantial pressure to manage water resources sustainably and legally. At NuWater, we design, build, and operate smart, mobile, and modular water treatment systems that transform these pressures into opportunities—making even the most contaminated water sources into reliable, cost-effective assets.
Our deep industry experience equips us to continuously refine and innovate. We’ve engineered high-performance systems for both international and local mining clients—delivering effective water reclamation and reuse, no matter how complex the source or contamination challenges.
Common Water Challenges for Mines
Acid Mine Drainage (AMD)
Exposure of sulphide-rich rock to air and water leads to sulphuric acid formation, which can persist for centuries. Left untreated, AMD can leach into local waterways, causing long-term environmental damage.
Heavy Metal Contamination & Leaching
Mining exposes metals like arsenic, cobalt, and lead to water—especially in low-pH environments where leaching accelerates. This polluted water is often unsafe for consumption or industrial use.
Processing Chemicals Pollution
Chemicals like cyanide and sulphuric acid—commonly used in ore separation—pose high toxicity risks when inadvertently released into natural water bodies due to leaks or spills.
Erosion and Sedimentation
Mining operations disturb soil and rock, and without proper control, sediment can overwhelm rivers, dams, and ecosystems—compromising water quality and biodiversity.
10,000
Billion Litres +
South Africa exports oil products, minerals and metals, all of which require enormous amounts of water.
170
Billion Litres
211 tonnes of platinum were exported in 2012, that’s equivalent to 170 billion litres of water—the amount needed to mine and process the metal.
1000
Operational Mines
South Africa has at least 1000 operational mines, which collectively use the same amount of water as the country’s entire population of 53 million.
NuWater’s Value-Driven Outcomes
- Efficiency in Water Use: Convert wastewater into a strategic resource rather than a disposal challenge.
- Scalable & Mobile Design: Our containerised systems are compact, easy to deploy, and can be redeployed as site needs evolve.
- Powerful Treatment Capacity: These automated systems can produce up to 50 million litres of high-quality water per day—all within a dramatically reduced footprint.
Moreover, NuWater offers advanced waste-stream strategies, including brine recovery, Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD), biomass-to-energy conversion, and solids recycling—enhancing resource efficiency and environmental sustainability.
NuWater’s Value-Driven Outcomes
Benefit
Industry Expertise
Innovative Design
Environmental Responsibility
Operational Efficiency
Impact
Tailored solutions for mining-specific water challenges.
Mobile, modular systems that scale with needs.
Meets compliance while minimizing waste.
Large output from compact, easy-to-manage units.
NuWater’s mine water treatment plants are engineered not just to treat water, but to deliver significant value—turning operational liabilities into environmentally responsible, efficient assets.
