In observance of World Water Day, held annually on March 22nd since 1993, we celebrate the vital importance of water and raise awareness of the staggering 2.2 billion people worldwide who lack access to safe drinking water. This year’s theme, “Water for Peace,” underscores the imperative to address the global water crisis through collective action. A central focus of World Water Day is advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6, which aims to ensure access to clean water and sanitation for all by 2030.
At Rosebel Gold Mines (RGM), we operate our own water treatment facility, providing fresh drinking water to all employees, contractors, and guests on our premises. Moreover, our comprehensive water management system supplies water to various facilities across our operations, from the kitchen at Camp to the Mill and even our drilling operations.
Ronald Lensa, General Foreman of the Surface Support Department, has been with the company for over 20 years. His department oversees the maintenance of the Water Treatment Plant and other company facilities. Additionally, they have played a crucial role in implementing water projects for external stakeholders of the company as well.
“Over the years, Surface Support has done numerous projects, including the supervision of construction of schools, installation of culverts, and water supply initiatives in surrounding villages,” Lensa explains. “Construction of our Water Treatment Plant commenced in 2008, and it became fully operational in January 2009. Prior to this, we relied on well water, though not suitable for drinking. The company purchased water from SWM (Surinamese Water Company) in the past and bottled water. Now, with our own bottling plant, we handle the bottling process ourselves. Our water samples undergo testing at SGS Canada, while local testing is being done at the RGM Mill lab.”
As RGM undergoes expansion, enhancements and additions to the current water management system are underway. “We are implementing several improvements, such as installing a new chlorine analyzer in the coming period. Recently, we upgraded the bottling plant to boost our bottling capacity,” Lensa elaborates. “We are currently in the process of thoroughly cleaning the entire system using a three-step plan. This involves replacing the filter medium, cleaning the water tanks, and subsequently replacing the entire pipeline between the water treatment and the water tanks. This will ensure that we have a completely clean system.”
As climate change impacts increase and populations grows, there is an urgent need for collaboration within and between nations to safeguard and conserve our most precious resource. At RGM, we are committed to intensifying our efforts to enhance our water management system continually, with the goal of achieving zero water waste through efficient production, distribution, waste minimization, and treatment.
