We collect data on the flow and quality of surface and groundwater in the basins and drainage areas above and below the mine impact zone, in order to understand the water regime at the site and in the vicinity of the proposed mine. Our work to understand the hydrological regime of this area would help us to define the best water management practices.
We would put in place a set of protection measures for each phase of the proposed production process in order to protect drinking water sources, enable sustainable access to water for other local industries and for the needs of agriculture in this area. We would manage the quality and quantity of any surplus water that needs to be discharged and maintain optimal conditions for flora and fauna whose habitats are connected to water.
FAQs
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Where would the Jadar Project draw water from?
The Jadar Project’s water demands would be met through three sources:
- The primary source would be water obtained from regular drainage of the underground mine, which would be purified at the water treatment facility;
- An additional source would be water obtained by collecting atmospheric runoff water in the area of processing and mining facilities;
- The water from the Drina alluvium (not its river course) would be used as a supplementary source of water supply only when there is not enough groundwater from the mine area or when there is not enough precipitation. A water extraction point would be formed in an area that is not used as a drinking water source.
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How much water would the Jadar Project pump from the Drina alluvium?
The water from the Drina alluvium would be only one of three sources, which would be used as a supplementary source of water supply only when there is not enough groundwater from the mine area or when there is not enough precipitation. If this were the case, the estimated average intake would be 11.6 l/s, while the maximum intake was estimated at 40.5 l/s, which would depend on the variability of precipitation and inflow of mine water. It is planned for approximately 70% of the project’s water demands to come from recycled sources or treated mine water.
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How much wastewater would Jadar release?
Any water not for reuse would be treated in a specially designed water management facility prior to its discharge into the Jadar River. The treated water would be, at a minimum, the same quality as the water it is released to, which is class II in the case of the Jadar River. This is in line with the legislation of the Republic of Serbia. The volume of treated water would be at least 300 times lower than the average river flow.
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What would be the impact of the Jadar Project on the water supply of local communities?
Drinking water resources would not be used for the processing of the jadarite mineral. The Jadar Project would not draw groundwater from the sources currently used for the local communities’ water supply, such as water from the Jadar and Korenita alluvions. In addition, mining activities would be conducted underground, at a depth of between 300 and 600 meters, in a separate hydrogeological zone which has no contact with groundwaters currently used to supply households.