CJK’s lack of clarity and potential risks associated with the project's water usage, raise serious questions about its sustainability and impact on the community.
High water consumption: The mill's daily water use could equal that of 350 Leadville homes, potentially impacting residential capacity during droughts. CJK claims water consumption of over 38,000 gallons per day. That represents over 3% of the Parkville Water District annual estimated water consumption.
Water source identification: The application does not specify where fresh water will come from, instead it suggests possible sources including groundwater that could impact existing wells.
Ignoring International Council on Mining & Metal framework: The project doesn't follow industry best practices for considering social, cultural, and environmental impacts on water resources.
Potential impact on existing users: The project's water demands could reduce water availability to current and future water users in the upper Arkansas River basin.