The water footprint of lithium extraction technologies: Insights from environmental impact reports in Argentina's salt flats

Autores
Diaz Paz, Walter Fernando; Seghezzo, Lucas; Salas Barboza, Ariela Griselda Judith; Escosteguy, Melisa Lucía; Arias Alvarado, Paula Valentina; Kruse, Eduardo Emilio; Hufty, Marc; Iribarnegaray, Martín Alejandro
Año de publicación
2025
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
artículo
Estado
versión publicada
Descripción
This study estimates water consumption in two lithium mines (Olaroz and Fénix) that use different extraction technologies in Argentina's salt flats. Based on Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs), we assess the water footprint (WF) and brine consumption (BC) in both mines. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to estimate WF and BC for lithium extraction and provides data to assess water consumption and better understand its implications for local ecosystems and communities. We also contextualize freshwater consumption in lithium extraction projects by estimating the blue water intensity (WIblue) and the population equivalent (PE), namely the number of local inhabitants that would consume an equivalent volume of water. Total WF was 51.0 and 135.5 m3/ton of lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) for Olaroz and Fénix, respectively. Per unit of product, WF was 2.7 times higher in Fénix but BC was higher in Olaroz. WIblue indicates that, while Fénix had a higher WFblue, its impact on local blue water availability is moderate due to greater local water availability. WFblue in Olaroz and Fénix was equivalent to the water consumption of 32,238 and 141,047 inhabitants of their nearest towns (Susques and Antofagasta de la Sierra, respectively, both with a current population of less than 2,100 inhabitants). Our findings underscore that the water consumption of lithium mining can have important impacts that vary significantly with geographic context. EIRs provide a useful basis for estimating WF and BC, though certain limitations and challenges persist, particularly regarding incomplete or insufficiently detailed data.
Fil: Diaz Paz, Walter Fernando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; Argentina
Fil: Seghezzo, Lucas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; Argentina
Fil: Salas Barboza, Ariela Griselda Judith. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; Argentina
Fil: Escosteguy, Melisa Lucía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; Argentina
Fil: Arias Alvarado, Paula Valentina. Universidad Nacional de Salta; Argentina
Fil: Kruse, Eduardo Emilio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; Argentina
Fil: Hufty, Marc. No especifíca;
Fil: Iribarnegaray, Martín Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; Argentina
Materia
BRINE CONSUMPTION
FRESHWATER CONSUMPTION
LITHIUM EXTRACTION
POPULATION EQUIVALENT
WATER FOOT PRINT
FRESHWATER CONSUMPTION
LITHIUM EXTRACTION
POPULATION EQUIVALENT
WATER FOOT PRINT
Nivel de accesibilidad
acceso abierto
Condiciones de uso
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/ar/
Repositorio
CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Institución
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
OAI Identificador
oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/281435
Acceder
id CONICETDig_4c91e6735a4371d5029f222a8f99fb1a
oai_identifier_str oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/281435
network_acronym_str CONICETDig
repository_id_str 3498
network_name_str CONICET Digital (CONICET)
spelling The water footprint of lithium extraction technologies: Insights from environmental impact reports in Argentina's salt flatsDiaz Paz, Walter FernandoSeghezzo, LucasSalas Barboza, Ariela Griselda JudithEscosteguy, Melisa LucíaArias Alvarado, Paula ValentinaKruse, Eduardo EmilioHufty, MarcIribarnegaray, Martín AlejandroBRINE CONSUMPTIONFRESHWATER CONSUMPTIONLITHIUM EXTRACTIONPOPULATION EQUIVALENTWATER FOOT PRINTFRESHWATER CONSUMPTIONLITHIUM EXTRACTIONPOPULATION EQUIVALENTWATER FOOT PRINThttps://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.5https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1This study estimates water consumption in two lithium mines (Olaroz and Fénix) that use different extraction technologies in Argentina's salt flats. Based on Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs), we assess the water footprint (WF) and brine consumption (BC) in both mines. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to estimate WF and BC for lithium extraction and provides data to assess water consumption and better understand its implications for local ecosystems and communities. We also contextualize freshwater consumption in lithium extraction projects by estimating the blue water intensity (WIblue) and the population equivalent (PE), namely the number of local inhabitants that would consume an equivalent volume of water. Total WF was 51.0 and 135.5 m3/ton of lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) for Olaroz and Fénix, respectively. Per unit of product, WF was 2.7 times higher in Fénix but BC was higher in Olaroz. WIblue indicates that, while Fénix had a higher WFblue, its impact on local blue water availability is moderate due to greater local water availability. WFblue in Olaroz and Fénix was equivalent to the water consumption of 32,238 and 141,047 inhabitants of their nearest towns (Susques and Antofagasta de la Sierra, respectively, both with a current population of less than 2,100 inhabitants). Our findings underscore that the water consumption of lithium mining can have important impacts that vary significantly with geographic context. EIRs provide a useful basis for estimating WF and BC, though certain limitations and challenges persist, particularly regarding incomplete or insufficiently detailed data.Fil: Diaz Paz, Walter Fernando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; ArgentinaFil: Seghezzo, Lucas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; ArgentinaFil: Salas Barboza, Ariela Griselda Judith. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; ArgentinaFil: Escosteguy, Melisa Lucía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; ArgentinaFil: Arias Alvarado, Paula Valentina. Universidad Nacional de Salta; ArgentinaFil: Kruse, Eduardo Emilio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Hufty, Marc. No especifíca;Fil: Iribarnegaray, Martín Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; ArgentinaElsevier2025-02info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articuloapplication/pdfapplication/pdfapplication/pdfapplication/pdfapplication/pdfapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/11336/281435Diaz Paz, Walter Fernando; Seghezzo, Lucas; Salas Barboza, Ariela Griselda Judith; Escosteguy, Melisa Lucía; Arias Alvarado, Paula Valentina; et al.; The water footprint of lithium extraction technologies: Insights from environmental impact reports in Argentina's salt flats; Elsevier; Heliyon; 11; 4; 2-2025; 1-142405-8440CONICET DigitalCONICETenginfo:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S240584402500903Xinfo:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e42523info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/ar/reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET)instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas2026-02-26T10:04:44Zoai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/281435instacron:CONICETInstitucionalhttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/Organismo científico-tecnológicoNo correspondehttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/oai/requestdasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:34982026-02-26 10:04:44.772CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicasfalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv The water footprint of lithium extraction technologies: Insights from environmental impact reports in Argentina's salt flats
title The water footprint of lithium extraction technologies: Insights from environmental impact reports in Argentina's salt flats
spellingShingle The water footprint of lithium extraction technologies: Insights from environmental impact reports in Argentina's salt flats
Diaz Paz, Walter Fernando
BRINE CONSUMPTION
FRESHWATER CONSUMPTION
LITHIUM EXTRACTION
POPULATION EQUIVALENT
WATER FOOT PRINT
FRESHWATER CONSUMPTION
LITHIUM EXTRACTION
POPULATION EQUIVALENT
WATER FOOT PRINT
title_short The water footprint of lithium extraction technologies: Insights from environmental impact reports in Argentina's salt flats
title_full The water footprint of lithium extraction technologies: Insights from environmental impact reports in Argentina's salt flats
title_fullStr The water footprint of lithium extraction technologies: Insights from environmental impact reports in Argentina's salt flats
title_full_unstemmed The water footprint of lithium extraction technologies: Insights from environmental impact reports in Argentina's salt flats
title_sort The water footprint of lithium extraction technologies: Insights from environmental impact reports in Argentina's salt flats
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Diaz Paz, Walter Fernando
Seghezzo, Lucas
Salas Barboza, Ariela Griselda Judith
Escosteguy, Melisa Lucía
Arias Alvarado, Paula Valentina
Kruse, Eduardo Emilio
Hufty, Marc
Iribarnegaray, Martín Alejandro
author Diaz Paz, Walter Fernando
author_facet Diaz Paz, Walter Fernando
Seghezzo, Lucas
Salas Barboza, Ariela Griselda Judith
Escosteguy, Melisa Lucía
Arias Alvarado, Paula Valentina
Kruse, Eduardo Emilio
Hufty, Marc
Iribarnegaray, Martín Alejandro
author_role author
author2 Seghezzo, Lucas
Salas Barboza, Ariela Griselda Judith
Escosteguy, Melisa Lucía
Arias Alvarado, Paula Valentina
Kruse, Eduardo Emilio
Hufty, Marc
Iribarnegaray, Martín Alejandro
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv BRINE CONSUMPTION
FRESHWATER CONSUMPTION
LITHIUM EXTRACTION
POPULATION EQUIVALENT
WATER FOOT PRINT
FRESHWATER CONSUMPTION
LITHIUM EXTRACTION
POPULATION EQUIVALENT
WATER FOOT PRINT
topic BRINE CONSUMPTION
FRESHWATER CONSUMPTION
LITHIUM EXTRACTION
POPULATION EQUIVALENT
WATER FOOT PRINT
FRESHWATER CONSUMPTION
LITHIUM EXTRACTION
POPULATION EQUIVALENT
WATER FOOT PRINT
purl_subject.fl_str_mv https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.5
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv This study estimates water consumption in two lithium mines (Olaroz and Fénix) that use different extraction technologies in Argentina's salt flats. Based on Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs), we assess the water footprint (WF) and brine consumption (BC) in both mines. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to estimate WF and BC for lithium extraction and provides data to assess water consumption and better understand its implications for local ecosystems and communities. We also contextualize freshwater consumption in lithium extraction projects by estimating the blue water intensity (WIblue) and the population equivalent (PE), namely the number of local inhabitants that would consume an equivalent volume of water. Total WF was 51.0 and 135.5 m3/ton of lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) for Olaroz and Fénix, respectively. Per unit of product, WF was 2.7 times higher in Fénix but BC was higher in Olaroz. WIblue indicates that, while Fénix had a higher WFblue, its impact on local blue water availability is moderate due to greater local water availability. WFblue in Olaroz and Fénix was equivalent to the water consumption of 32,238 and 141,047 inhabitants of their nearest towns (Susques and Antofagasta de la Sierra, respectively, both with a current population of less than 2,100 inhabitants). Our findings underscore that the water consumption of lithium mining can have important impacts that vary significantly with geographic context. EIRs provide a useful basis for estimating WF and BC, though certain limitations and challenges persist, particularly regarding incomplete or insufficiently detailed data.
Fil: Diaz Paz, Walter Fernando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; Argentina
Fil: Seghezzo, Lucas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; Argentina
Fil: Salas Barboza, Ariela Griselda Judith. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; Argentina
Fil: Escosteguy, Melisa Lucía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; Argentina
Fil: Arias Alvarado, Paula Valentina. Universidad Nacional de Salta; Argentina
Fil: Kruse, Eduardo Emilio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; Argentina
Fil: Hufty, Marc. No especifíca;
Fil: Iribarnegaray, Martín Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; Argentina
description This study estimates water consumption in two lithium mines (Olaroz and Fénix) that use different extraction technologies in Argentina's salt flats. Based on Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs), we assess the water footprint (WF) and brine consumption (BC) in both mines. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to estimate WF and BC for lithium extraction and provides data to assess water consumption and better understand its implications for local ecosystems and communities. We also contextualize freshwater consumption in lithium extraction projects by estimating the blue water intensity (WIblue) and the population equivalent (PE), namely the number of local inhabitants that would consume an equivalent volume of water. Total WF was 51.0 and 135.5 m3/ton of lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) for Olaroz and Fénix, respectively. Per unit of product, WF was 2.7 times higher in Fénix but BC was higher in Olaroz. WIblue indicates that, while Fénix had a higher WFblue, its impact on local blue water availability is moderate due to greater local water availability. WFblue in Olaroz and Fénix was equivalent to the water consumption of 32,238 and 141,047 inhabitants of their nearest towns (Susques and Antofagasta de la Sierra, respectively, both with a current population of less than 2,100 inhabitants). Our findings underscore that the water consumption of lithium mining can have important impacts that vary significantly with geographic context. EIRs provide a useful basis for estimating WF and BC, though certain limitations and challenges persist, particularly regarding incomplete or insufficiently detailed data.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025-02
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
info:ar-repo/semantics/articulo
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/11336/281435
Diaz Paz, Walter Fernando; Seghezzo, Lucas; Salas Barboza, Ariela Griselda Judith; Escosteguy, Melisa Lucía; Arias Alvarado, Paula Valentina; et al.; The water footprint of lithium extraction technologies: Insights from environmental impact reports in Argentina's salt flats; Elsevier; Heliyon; 11; 4; 2-2025; 1-14
2405-8440
CONICET Digital
CONICET
url http://hdl.handle.net/11336/281435
identifier_str_mv Diaz Paz, Walter Fernando; Seghezzo, Lucas; Salas Barboza, Ariela Griselda Judith; Escosteguy, Melisa Lucía; Arias Alvarado, Paula Valentina; et al.; The water footprint of lithium extraction technologies: Insights from environmental impact reports in Argentina's salt flats; Elsevier; Heliyon; 11; 4; 2-2025; 1-14
2405-8440
CONICET Digital
CONICET
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S240584402500903X
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e42523
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/ar/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/ar/
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
application/pdf
application/pdf
application/pdf
application/pdf
application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
reponame_str CONICET Digital (CONICET)
collection CONICET Digital (CONICET)
instname_str Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
repository.name.fl_str_mv CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
repository.mail.fl_str_mv dasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.ar
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score 13.176822

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