CBPM 2025 · Vol. 2025, Issue 1

Digital Solutions for the Management of Wastewater Storage for the Mining Industry

Leah Ledwaba and Makgopa Tshehla

Keywords: Compliance, digital technologies, operational efficiency, sustainability, wastewater storage management

Abstract

Managing wastewater in the mining sector presents considerable issues, with extensive ramifications for operations. This study seeks to provide a comprehensive digital solution to improve the effective management of wastewater storage, with a particular emphasis on Platinum Group Metals mining. Mining is a significant danger to water safety in arid places such as South Africa, necessitating new solutions. This study adopted qualitative methodologies to discern emergent themes. The findings indicate that technologies like big data and artificial intelligence may significantly enhance the efficiency of wastewater management. Significantly, technological failures often stem from fundamental difficulties like organisational and cultural obstacles, rather than the solutions themselves. Legal and regulatory compliance exacerbates treatment procedures. This study presents a conceptual framework that amalgamates digital technology with pragmatic solutions to tackle these difficulties. The framework improves management and compliance in wastewater operations via a systematic approach, encouraging the implementation of digital technologies in the mining industry to address present and future requirements.