High in the Andes, Goldcorp’s El Morro mine overlooks the Atacama Desert, dotted with goat and cattle farms, rare pockets of vegetation, and the various communities of the Huasco Valley. Rainfall is scarce here – averaging less than .004 inches per year – so just as gold resources are precious, fresh water is too. Despite mountain snowfall and glaciers, more water is lost through evaporation than gained.

From a very early stage of consultation with local communities, the issue of water scarcity has been a main concern of the residents of the Huasco Valley. Key economic activities in the valley are focused around agriculture, including wild grapevines, olive trees, fruit, and vegetables, and cattle including goats, horses and sheep.

In response to this local concern around water quantity, El Morro began searching for alternate sources of water. And there, directly west, lay the Pacific Ocean.

Lisa Wade, Goldcorp’s Director of Environment, says “After consulting with the community and considering a number of options, the best alternative is to build a deep-sea water plant on the coast and pump ocean water to the mine so as not to impact the farmers and the region’s groundwater levels.”

Led by Senior Vice President of Project Development, Barry Olson, Goldcorp is embarking on a massive plan to build a pumping plant at sea level miles away, install and operate complex salt extraction equipment and processes, and build extensive pipelines to move the water through the valley and 4,000 metres up the mountain. “This is our first time implementing this process. And it will be expensive and labour intensive, but it’s the right thing to do” says Olson.

Wade says Goldcorp will implement revolutionary technology that decreases the impact on marine life. “The pumps are specially engineered with several smaller intake points with less intense suction so as not to harm vulnerable sea creatures. Our understanding is that even shrimp and small aquatic life will be able to swim by without getting drawn in.”

The intention is to reduce operational impact above ground as well.“ We will need a lengthy network of piping to transport the water from the coast up to the mine site, “ says Olson. “But we have to build roads up the mountain anyway so we will design the pipe system along the roadway. It’s the cost of doing environmentally and socially sound business.” The surrounding communities are satisfied the mine will not affect their water sources and are looking forward to having new roads, as well as the training and employment opportunities generated by the project.