Event
Washington, DC
16 - 19 Sep
NSSGA Legislative & Policy Forum 2025
The Global Perspective
Around the world, water availability is under growing threat. For an industry like ours—quarrying, mining, and materials processing—where water is essential to operations and environmental compliance, this challenge is becoming more urgent by the day.
From the tightening grip of drought in southern Europe and Australia to evolving regulatory frameworks across the Americas and Middle East, the story is clear: effective, intelligent water management is no longer optional. It is central to business continuity and sustainability.
A Shared Challenge, Different Pressures
Despite varied geography, our core markets all face a version of the same problem: how to balance increasing demand for materials with decreasing tolerance for environmental strain - especially when it comes to water.
UK & Ireland
In the UK and Ireland, where rainfall is abundant yet unevenly distributed, recent summers have exposed the fragility of water infrastructure. Hosepipe bans, river abstraction limits, and concerns from the Environment Agency about long-term water security have triggered renewed scrutiny of industrial water use.
William Melanophy, Head of Business Development for UK & Ireland, sees this shift up close:
“Customers in the UK and Ireland are under more pressure than ever to justify their water usage. We’re working with operators who are being asked to demonstrate not just efficiency, but full lifecycle accountability - from abstraction to treatment to discharge.”
Europe
Across continental Europe, historic droughts in parts of Spain, France, Poland, and Germany have added to already strict environmental legislation. Permitting for new water-intensive operations is becoming more complex, and local authorities are demanding integrated water management solutions as standard.
Eunan Kelly, Head of Business Development Europe, explains:
“Operators want to wash, because the value in clean aggregates is undeniable. But they’re hampered by site constraints, rising regulation, and public pressure. That’s why we’ve focused on modular, low-footprint solutions that maximise recovery and eliminate the need for traditional settling ponds.”
Middle East & Africa (MEA)
In MEA, water scarcity is a historic and intensifying reality. Across the Gulf and North Africa, the need for high-quality construction materials runs up against the extreme scarcity and cost of fresh water. In many cases, groundwater is the only available source - making efficiency critical.
Bassem Idriss, Head of Business Development MEA, says:
“In the Middle East, water is a precious commodity. Our customers can’t afford to waste it - and with CDE systems, they don’t have to. The ability to recycle up to 95% of process water with AquaCycle™ thickener and ProPress™ filter press is a game changer.”
He adds that governments across the region are increasingly demanding ESG-aligned development:
Australia
Australia has long been a proving ground for advanced water management. As one of the world’s driest inhabited continents, water regulation is highly evolved and site assessments are rigorous.
James Murphy, Head of Business Development AUS, shares:
“Permitting in Australia is rightly strict. Operators need to show regulators how they will protect groundwater, minimise consumption, and manage discharge. Our modular plants - with their built-in water recycling systems - are often the only practical way to secure approval.”
Americas
In North and Latin America, legislative clarity is catching up with the need for action. The reclarification of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule under the Clean Water Act in the U.S. has given operators more certainty - but also sharpened expectations around compliance.
Darren Eastwood, Business Development Director, explains:
“Regulation in the U.S. and Canada is increasingly focused on clarity and enforcement. Our customers want scalable, compliant solutions that eliminate ambiguity. Settling ponds introduce risk and inefficiency - so we’re seeing strong momentum behind fully closed-loop systems.”
In Latin America, water infrastructure and environmental protection are equally in focus. As governments raise sustainability standards, many mines and quarries are adapting or accelerating transitions to recirculating water systems.
Water Isn’t Just a Resource - It’s a Responsibility
In all regions, operators share a common goal: to recover more value with less waste, less water, and less risk.
Our approach to water management goes beyond hardware. It includes strategic support—modelling water flow, helping navigate permitting, and delivering solutions that are tailored to each site’s environmental context and commercial goals.
Whether through the AquaCycle™ thickener, the ProPress™ filter press, or the space-saving MicroPond™, our solutions enable materials processors to:
- Recover up to 95% of process water
- Eliminate or reduce the need for settling ponds
- Lower maintenance and sludge removal costs
- Meet regional and global environmental standards
Conclusion: Water-Wise Growth Is the Future
As water becomes a more tightly monitored and monetised resource, the winners in our industry will be those who plan ahead, invest in resilience, and commit to stewardship.
Across the UK & Ireland, Europe, MEA, Australia, and the Americas, one thing is clear: those who manage water well will lead the way.
