Mining: Where will the water come from?
Mining uses a lot of water. The amount varies depending on the site, rock types, and a number of other factors. However, the Rawene Newsletter estimates, based on two different reports, that mining 1.5 million ounces of gold in the Far North would use as much water as Rawene uses in 121 – 252 years.
http://www.nzsses.auckland.ac.nz/conference/2007/papers/MUDD-Gold-Mining-v-Sustainability.pdf
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/manufacturing/industries_technologies/mining/pdfs/water_use_mining.pdf