Water: Mining's Most Precious Resource
Water is essential to mining β it is used in mineral processing, dust suppression, cooling, and countless other operational functions. Yet water is also one of the most sensitive environmental and social issues facing the extractive industries. In an era of climate change, growing water scarcity, and rising community expectations, responsible water management is not optional; it is a prerequisite for maintaining the social licence to operate.
At Teck Resources, water stewardship is a core pillar of our sustainability strategy. We operate in regions spanning the arid Atacama Desert in Chile to the rain-soaked coastal mountains of British Columbia and the Arctic tundra of Alaska. Each environment presents distinct hydrological challenges, and our approach is tailored to the unique conditions and stakeholder priorities at every site.
Our Water Strategy Framework
Teck's water strategy is built on four interconnected principles: reduce consumption, maximise recycling, protect watershed health, and engage transparently with communities and regulators. We set site-specific water targets aligned with the International Council on Mining and Metals Water Stewardship Framework and report our performance annually through our sustainability report and CDP Water Security disclosure.
- Reduce freshwater intake β Across our operations, we have reduced freshwater withdrawal intensity by more than 25 percent over the past decade through process optimisation and alternative water sourcing.
- Maximise water recycling β Our operations recycle and reuse over 80 percent of process water on average, with some sites exceeding 90 percent.
- Protect downstream water quality β Comprehensive water treatment systems ensure that all discharges meet or exceed regulatory standards and protect aquatic ecosystems.
- Community engagement β Regular water quality monitoring programmes conducted in partnership with local communities, Indigenous groups, and independent scientists.
Quebrada Blanca: Innovation in Water-Scarce Environments
Our Quebrada Blanca operation in Chile's TarapacΓ‘ Region is located in one of the driest places on Earth. The Phase 2 expansion was designed from the ground up to minimise freshwater use, incorporating a desalination plant that draws seawater from the Pacific Ocean and pumps it more than 4,400 metres in elevation to the mine site. This approach eliminates reliance on scarce Andean freshwater sources and sets a new standard for water management in arid mining environments.
The desalination plant produces approximately 840 litres per second of treated water, sufficient to meet the operational needs of the expanded mine without competing with agricultural or community water demands. The system is powered in part by renewable energy, further reducing its environmental footprint.
Highland Valley Copper: Watershed Protection
At Highland Valley Copper in British Columbia, water management focuses on protecting the health of the Thompson River watershed and the salmon populations that depend on it. The operation maintains an extensive network of water monitoring stations, sediment ponds, and diversion channels designed to prevent mine-affected water from reaching natural watercourses.
Teck has invested in advanced water treatment technologies at Highland Valley, including passive treatment wetlands that use natural biological and chemical processes to polish mine drainage before it is returned to the environment. These constructed wetlands also provide habitat for birds, amphibians, and other wildlife, creating ecological co-benefits that extend well beyond water quality.
Trail Operations: A Legacy of Improvement
Teck's Trail Operations in southeastern British Columbia is one of the world's largest integrated metallurgical complexes, refining zinc, lead, and specialty metals. Historically, the Columbia River downstream of Trail was impacted by decades of industrial activity. Over the past 25 years, Teck has invested over CAD 1.5 billion in environmental improvements at Trail, including state-of-the-art effluent treatment systems that have dramatically improved water quality in the river.
Today, biological monitoring confirms that fish populations and aquatic biodiversity in the Columbia River near Trail have recovered significantly, demonstrating that sustained investment in water stewardship can reverse historical impacts and restore ecosystem health.
Collaborative Approaches to Water Governance
Teck recognises that water challenges transcend property boundaries and require collaborative, watershed-scale solutions. We participate in multi-stakeholder water governance initiatives in every region where we operate, including the Elk Valley Water Quality Plan in British Columbia, one of the most comprehensive mine-related water management programmes in the world.
Our commitment to water stewardship is a commitment to the communities, ecosystems, and future generations that depend on clean, abundant water. At Teck Resources, we believe that responsible mining and healthy watersheds can and must coexist.