SME has issued its eighth technical briefing paper, “Mining and the Use, Quality and Availability of Water.” This paper addresses the often controversial public concerns of mining’s perceived impact on local surface and ground water sources due to withdrawals and acid rock drainage. While mining represents a very small faction of the total world’s water demand, its impacts on local resources surrounding mine sites can be significant. This paper reiterates SME’s support for the goals to continually improve management of water at mines and minimize the effects of mining on both water quantity and quality by: preventing or minimizing the migration of acid drainage and other mine-related contaminants to surface and ground water resources; maximizing water recycling and minimizing water consumption during operations; Integrating pollution prevention and water conservation measures in mine planning, design and operation; and creating mines that are suitable for a variety of productive post-mining land uses. Go to www.smenet.org/gpac under "Advocacy."