Conference Topics - IMWA 2025

Lessons learned – What went wrong?

Focuses on analysing failures and setbacks in mine water management or in mine water related experiments, examining the root causes, consequences, and lessons learned to improve future practices and prevent similar issues.

Case Studies

Presents detailed case studies of mine water management from various mining operations around the world, highlighting successes, and challenges from real-world applications.

Policy Frameworks and Regulatory Approaches

Reviews existing policy frameworks and regulatory approaches to mine water management, discussing their effectiveness, challenges, and potential areas for reform and improvement.

Communication about Mining and Mine Water – Stakeholders and Public

Addresses strategies for effective communication about mining and mine water issues with stakeholders, regulators and the public, including transparency, risk communication, and community engagement.

Mine Heritage and historical water Issues

Explores historical perspectives on mine water issues, including the legacy of past mining practices, historical contamination, and efforts to preserve and learn from mining heritage.

Circular Economy and Resilience in Mining-influenced Water

Discusses the role of circular economy principles in managing mining-influenced water, promoting resource recovery, waste minimization, underground pumped hydroelectric energy storage, resilience in mining operations and as resource in a post closure economy.

Geothermal Energy and Mine Water

Examines the potential for using mine water for geothermal energy production, including technological approaches, economic feasibility, changes in volume and temperature and case studies of successful implementations.

Beneficial Uses of Mining-influenced Water

Investigates potential beneficial uses of mining-influenced water, such as potable water, agricultural irrigation, industrial applications, and habitat creation, along with the necessary treatment to make such uses fit for purpose.

Water-Energy Nexus in Mining Operations

Explores the interconnections between water and energy in mining operations, addressing the challenges of water usage in energy-intensive processes and opportunities for improving efficiency and sustainability.

Organic pollutants in Mine Water

Discusses the sources, fate, and treatment of organic pollutants in mine water, including hydrocarbons, solvents, and other organic compounds that may arise from mining activities.

Process Water from raw material beneficiation

Tailings and Tailings Ponds

Examines the management of tailings and tailings ponds, including environmental risks, monitoring, treatment technologies, and strategies for minimizing potential negative effects of tailings on water resources or the reuse of tailings.

Passive Mine Water Treatment – Nature based solutions

Highlights nature-based solutions for passive treatment of mine water, utilizing constructed wetlands, bioreactors, and other ecological approaches to mitigate pollution and enhance water quality.

Active Mine Water Treatment

Covers techniques and technologies for active treatment of mine water, including biological, chemical and physical processes to remove contaminants and improve water quality.

Mine Water and Climate Dynamics

Investigates the interactions between mine water management and climate disruption, including the effects of extreme weather events, changing hydrological patterns, and adaptive strategies for resilience.

Mine Closure and Associated Legacy Issues

Explores the environmental, social, and economic issues associated with mine closure, including legacy pollution, land rehabilitation, community influences, and post-closure water management strategies.

Mine Drainage of Abandoned Mines

Focuses on the challenges and solutions related to mine drainage from abandoned mines, including long-term environmental impacts, remediation strategies, and monitoring techniques.

Mine water and water resources management

Discusses integrated approaches to managing mine water and broader water resources, balancing mining operations with the sustainable use of water resources and addressing water quality issues as well as water scarcity or its excess.

Hydrology, Hydrogeology and Mine Geochemistry

Addresses the hydrological and hydrogeological dynamics of mine water systems, including the geochemical and biogeochemical processes influencing water quality and the movement of water through mining landscapes and effects on aquifers.

Ecology and Microbiology of Mining-influenced Water

Examines the ecological and microbiological aspects of mining-influenced water, including microbial processes with respect to the generation and mitigation of mining influenced water, biodiversity, and the interactions between microorganisms and contaminants in various mining environments.

Acid Mine Drainage – Monitoring, Control and Prevention

Focuses on methods and technologies for monitoring, controlling, and preventing acid mine drainage (AMD), addressing its environmental implications, and discussing successful strategies and innovations in AMD management and mitigation.

Emerging Technologies – Sensors, UAV, Machine Learning and the like

Explores the latest advancements in sensors, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), machine learning, artificial intelligence, and other technologies for monitoring, analysing, and managing mine water and associated environmental challenges.

Conference Topics

Acid Mine Drainage Control and Prevention Techniques
Active Treatment Innovations and Applications
Passive Treatment Innovations
Abandoned Mine Drainage Water Management – Extracting Geothermal Energy from Mine Water
Tailings and Tailings Ponds
Circular Economy and Resilience Issues with Mining-influenced Water
Beneficial Uses of Mining-influenced Water
Rare Earth Elements in Mine Water
Ecology and Microbiology of Mine Water
Water Issues for Mine Waste Storage Facilities
Mine Water Safety Issues
Socio-economic Issues with Mine Water
Stream Restoration
Hydrology and Mine Geochemistry
Mine Closure and Associated Legacy Issues
Case Studies