Assessing Water-Related Risks in the Mining Sector As populations, economies and global per capita consumption continue to grow, so does the need for raw materials. Mining activity will need to increase to meet these growing demands. At the same time, water availability and poor water quality are increasingly emerging as global risks for many industries, especially in arid and densely populated regions, and the mining sector is no exception. Because of the long-term and potentially irreversible impacts of mineral extraction on land and water resources, the mining sector faces increasing scrutiny from citizens, local and national governments, and civil society organizations.