Environmental

Water

Our Approach

At Peabody, we strive to conserve water through reuse and recycling to minimize our impact while driving a culture of continuous improvement at our operations. While we manage and utilize water as part of daily operations, we acknowledge that water can be a vital resource in the communities in which we operate and an important component of thriving ecosystems. 
As a component of the risk management framework, each of our mines aligns its water management strategy with the specific challenges of its region and regularly monitors performance. We actively participate in watershed working groups and industry associations to ensure a holistic approach to water management and engagement with our communities of interest.

Operational risks associated with water are reviewed annually to ensure adequate planning and controls have been implemented to meet each operations’ unique water budget. All management and use of water at Peabody mines follow the regulatory frameworks specific to the countries and regions where they are located.

Water Use and Disclosure

Water is primarily used for dust control, coal processing at preparation plants, as well as exploration, coal extraction and land reclamation activities, with minor amounts used for mine location drinking water, showers and equipment maintenance. Water sources for Peabody mines include surface water, such as rivers, lakes, precipitation and runoff; groundwater; and municipal or purchased water.

KPI Data Charts

Current Stories and Initiatives

In 2022, a team at the Wilpinjong Mine developed a system that automates returning compliant surface water from above mine operations to the natural water system. This new system continuously monitors water quality data. By automating what was previously a manual pumping process, the team increased daily water returns by 300 percent.