THE MANY ROLES OF WATER IN TAILINGS DAM PLANNING AND THE IMPORTANCE FOR CLOSURE

January 7, 2026

A fundamental distinction between water dams and tailings dams (i.e., tailings facilities) lies in their lifespan: tailings facilities often exist significantly longer than conventional water dams. Water plays a central role in the responsible closure of tailings facilities and must be thoroughly considered in all its forms during the planning phase. Despite this importance, water-related discussions in tailings management alternatives analyses are frequently limited in scope—often confined to operations, geotechnical stability and water conservation topics such as the presence or absence of a tailings pond. However, water influences nearly every facet of tailings management, from construction, active operations through to post-closure phases. This paper highlights critical water-related considerations in the context of tailings management and presents a case study to underscore their importance. Key factors that must be evaluated in a comprehensive alternatives analysis include: Indigenous, traditional, and cultural water values; project lifecycle and end land use objectives; dam safety and associated risks; tailings geochemistry, process water dynamics, and seepage behavior; downstream and upstream hydrological conditions; integration with the overall mine plan and water management strategy; system robustness, reliability, and redundancy; design simplicity, constructability, and operational flexibility; and regulatory permitting as well as corporate social responsibility. The objective of this paper is to provide practitioners with guidance for considering water during a tailings management alternatives analysis.

Patterson, K. and Piggott M-J. 2025 " The Many Roles of Water in Tailings Dam Planning and the Importance for Closure” in Proceedings of the CDA Annual Conference, September 29 – October 1, 2025, Saskatoon, Sask: Canadian Dam Association