Oyu Tolgoi helping to save water – a precious treasure in the Gobi desert

– The Oyu Tolgoi mine is partnering with local residents and herders to protect water resources, through open and transparent water exploration and monitoring work –

The water reserve and mine production
As result of water exploration between 2003-2007, Oyu Tolgoi discovered, Gunii Hooloi, a deep aquifer, located 40km away from the mine. The Gunii Hooloi water aquifer is fossilised oceanic water, buried deep in the ground. The water is full of salt and solids, so is not suitable for human or animal consumption, it is only good for industrial use without filtration.

The water reserve of the Gunii Hooloi aquifer is approximately six billion, eight hundred million cubic metres (6,800,000,000) in size. Oyu Tolgoi will use only 20 per cent of this reserve during the life of the mine.

Oyu Tolgoi signs a water use contract with the local authority every year and pays for the water they use. To date, the Oyu Tolgoi project has paid over 76 million MNT to the Khanbogd soum governor’s office for water.

The best technology for saving water
Water is considered a precious treasure in the Gobi desert and Oyu Tolgoi is committed to efficient water use, saving water resources for the local community and future generations. The company is using the best technology to minimise water use. They are planning to use the most efficient tailings thickener for the production process and wastewater from production will be fully recycled and re-used in the concentrator. Cooling water, deep mining and domestic water and truck washing water will be treated and recycled 100 per cent. This means that the water is efficiently used until it has evaporated. Oyu Tolgoi is using the best water preservation model in the world. In order to protect the natural environment, the company is committed to a policy of not throwing away any wastewater.

Local participation, Gunii Hooloi deep aquifer
Herders are concerned that the use of water from the deep-water aquifer will affect water wells and reduce water levels. Hand-dug water wells in the Gobi desert have depth of 5-15 metres. The water level of the Gunii Hooloi deep aquifer is very deep, 70-400 metres. Between the surface and the deep aquifer is mud formation layer with a thickness of up to 250 metres. Therefore, use of deep underground water will not reduce surface water. The hand-dug water wells of the herders are dependent on dry riverbeds and ephemeral waterways (sair), to collect water from nearby hills and seasonal rain precipitation. So, water levels of the wells will vary depending on rainfall and the number of animals in the area. During spring, in March and April, water levels in the wells decrease significantly and then go up again in June and July, during the rainy season. This is proof that there is seasonal trend and variation. Oyu Tolgoi has been monitoring the water wells, in partnership with the local herders, since June 2011. Under this monitoring programme, herders themselves measure the water levels, monitor the water quality and keep records. They then compare their records with those of the Oyu Tolgoi staff. Currently, there are no differences between the records of herders and Oyu Tolgoi staff. Oyu Tolgoi has been monitoring the hand-dug water wells of the herders of Khanbogd soum since 2003. This programme includes measurement of the water wells and analysis of water quality. According to the monitoring results, over the last ten years, there is no negative impact on the hand-dug water wells of the herders.

Gobi pastureland and water well repair and maintenance
Gobi herders mainly use hand-dug water wells because there are no open water sources, rivers or creeks in the Gobi desert. Gobi herders also use the pastureland around water wells. The pastureland and water wells are directly related. In recent years, herders have lacked the organisation and the manpower to repair wells and fence pastureland. This lead to a decrease in water levels in the hand-dug wells. So in 2010, Oyu Tolgoi implemented a 'project to improve pastureland management of the Khanbogd soum.' Under this project, the mine repaired and restored 38 hand-dug water wells and two water holes at a cost of 39 million MNT. Local residents and herders were very thankful for this support and requested that the mine continue providing this support, so Oyu Tolgoi plans to continue this work in 2013. O.Enkhbayar, herder of the Gaviluud bagh of Khanbogd soum said, “the water level in our well was in decline, but now, one year since our well was repaired and improved, under the ‘project to improve pastureland management of the Khanbogd soum’, the water recovery process in our well has improved and it is no longer drying up. We regularly measure water levels ourselves, no changes have occurred in the water level. We appreciate that Oyu Tolgoi is helping herders and solving their water issues.” This year, the mine received requests from the local herders, herder groups and cooperatives to repair their water wells. They will make a final decision on the repair process after discussions with the residents, they will review the status of each well, find out when it collapsed and was buried, discuss the pastureland condition and determine how many animals can be watered from the well. After this assessment they plan to start the well repair work by May. The water recovery rate from the repaired water wells will be monitored and recorded.

Water monitoring and analysis, investment
Oyu Tolgoi has been conducting a water monitoring and analysis programme since 2004. This programme covers the following four areas: the Oyu Tolgoi site, Gunii Hooloi water aquifer, Galbiin Gobi, Gashuun Sukhait infrastructure corridor and Undai river basin. The objective of the underground water monitoring and analysis programme is to study water resources, water quality and the environmental conditions. Oyu Tolgoi will determine the scope of the operational impact on the natural cycle and mitigate the negative impact. Under this programme, water levels of wells and boreholes are measured using electric devices. Installed automatic equipment measures water levels, air temperature and air pressure in the wells. This sophisticated equipment takes readings at selected intervals and records the data in its memory. Information and data collected over many years is consolidated into a database and forms the basis for the detailed study of underground water sources, the natural cycle and the relationship between water formations. As of last year, this monitoring programme included 86 boreholes, 65 hand-dug water wells and two springs. Automatic water level measuring devices have been installed in boreholes and wells in use and set for daily operation.

In addition to the monitoring and analysis programme, Oyu Tolgoi is undertaking water exploration and working to increase the local water supply. In 2010, Oyu Tolgoi conducted water exploration in the territory of Khanbogd soum and in 2011, Oyu Tolgoi invested 1.7 billion MNT to find a preliminary clean water reserve. The mine also conducted water exploration in the territory of Dalanzadgad soum of South Gobi province at a cost of 185 million MNT and found large clean water resources. Last year, Oyu Tolgoi launched water exploration to look for water resources in the territory of Bayan-Ovoo soum.

You can obtain further detailed information from the report '2012 Implementation Oyu Tolgoi Environmental Protection Plan and Environmental Monitoring Programme by the holder of license no.6709 for Oyu Tolgoi deposit'.

Oyu Tolgoi works in compliance with all the relevant laws and regulations. The company is working with local residents and herders in a transparent and open manner to protect and monitor water, a precious treasure of the Gobi desert. This is a genuine expression from the people who really love and care for the land, local flora and fauna. All Mongolians have one motherland and one natural environment.