PSJ Cobre Mendocino’s water management strategy is designed to ensure the efficient, responsible, and sustainable use of water resources throughout the life of the project. The project uses a closed-loop water system that recirculates 80% of the water used in operations, significantly reducing the need for external water intake. This system minimizes the impact on local water resources and ensures there is no competition with other regional water users.
Water for the project will be sourced from Arroyo El Tigre, a stream identified as underutilized. The planned withdrawal rate is 141 liters per second, which has been assessed to ensure it does not affect existing downstream users or ecosystems. The design also includes infrastructure to monitor and manage any contact water, such as drainage channels and collection ponds that capture and redirect water for reuse in the processing plant.
To protect groundwater, the project includes measures such as sealing geo-structural faults in the pit area with shotcrete and installing a network of piezometers and monitoring wells to detect changes in water quality or levels. In case of any detected risk, additional measures like impermeabilization barriers can be implemented.
Overall, PSJ’s water management approach integrates international best practices and is aligned with legal standards, focusing on efficiency, prevention, and the long-term protection of water resources.