As part of World Water Week, we followed one of our water managers, Leonardo Mitre. Water is fundamental to our business. So too are the people who manage it. People like Leonardo are helping us turn our water strategy into a day-to-day reality, making us leaders, partners, and innovators in water stewardship.
Leonardo Mitre
Leonardo is the water resources and environmental engineering manager at our Minas-Rio project in Brazil. From surface to groundwater, he monitors all our resources, so we know we’re hitting our targets on a daily basis and using water as efficiently as possible
The morning rounds
At Minas-Rio, Leonardo meets with his water resources team to discuss and plan for the day’s activities. Today, they’re evaluating a watercourse at the mine.
Level checking at the tailings dam
After his morning meeting, Leonardo goes to the tailings dam to check the level of the reservoir, ensuring it matches the expected level. The reservoirs are a key water supply for the operation, so his team conducts water balance studies on a daily basis, assessing against their predictions as well as the needs of the operation.
Water flow regulation
Still at the tailings dam, Leonardo joins Rafael, another member of the water resources team, to check the pumping system. This system regulates water flow from the reservoir and works 24 hours a day.
Meeting high standards
Leonardo joins fellow water resources engineers, Gustavo and Rafael, at the dike to check the quality of the water flowing downstream.
Monitoring water treatment plants
Leonardo and Gustavo visit one of the water treatment plants at Minas-Rio, making sure it’s running smoothly. The water resources team is responsible for monitoring water from these plants and providing technical support for the operations team.
Verifying the watercourse level
In the afternoon, Leonardo works with Katherine, a geologist, to verify the level of a watercourse near the mine. All waterways around the operation are checked by the water resources team, ensuring appropriate levels and water quality.
Ensuring water quality
Mines don’t just rely on watercourses and reservoirs – they rely on good quality water underneath our feet. A piezometer is one of the devices we use to measure this ground water level and pressure. Here, Leonardo joins Josimar and José Luiz for their monthly monitoring.
Analysing the results
Back at the office, Leonardo discusses the results of the day’s water monitoring with Katherine, where they evaluate the health of the water supply at Minas-Rio and plan for tomorrow’s activities.
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