OVERVIEW OF THE IMPACT OF MINING ON THE ... - IIED pubs

3.14.1.4 Surface water users
There is some consumption of water for small-scale agriculture in the communal lands along the escarpment,
whilst most of the water used for domestic purposes in the towns is obtained either from the Kafue River or from
local boreholes. Some water is used at the Maamba Colliery.
3.14.1.5 Water management systems
The area falls under the jurisdiction of the Zambian Department of Water Affairs.
3.14.1.6 Human impacts on water resources (excluding mining)
The following could be expected to have an impact on water resources:
• Disposal of solid waste at Maamba Colliery and local towns;
• Disposal of liquid effluent at local towns;
• Urban run off from towns;
• Non-point sources of domestic effluent in the rural areas; and
• Litter and garbage on the main road between Livingstone and Lusaka.
3.14.2 Mining and mineral processing operations
The Maamba Colliery is the largest mining operation in this sub-catchment; the other operations are all small or
very small (Table 3.13; Figure 3.4). There are several identified coal resources and a few pegmatites with
semi-precious stones located in this sub-catchment.
Table 3.13: Mining operations in the Kariba (Zambia) sub-catchment.
Code
Number
Name of Mine
Commodity (ies)
Mined
cxxiv
Status
Relative
Size
Probable
Impact
Z-32 Chipepo Coal Prospecting Small Low
Z-33 Maamba Coal Operating Large High – Very high
Z-34 Simani Amethyst Operating Very small Very low – Low
Z-35a Kabanga Tin Operating Very small Very low – Low
Z-35b Kalomo Claims Amethyst Abandoned Very small Very low
Z-36 Senkobo Amethyst Operating Very small Very low – Low