Mine haul road watering is a form of dust suppression technique where water is applied periodically to an unpaved road surface in order to reduce fugitive dust produced by heavy vehicles [1]. It is an important process for ensuring road safety since dust reduces visibility for drivers and for ensuring that mines comply with environment protection laws that limit particulate matter in the air.
The operational demands for effective road watering are enormous. Billions of liters of water are used in mines for dust suppression purposes every year [2]. Consequently, a special fleet of water trucks is needed for watering roads, which translates into a lot of labor and energy in terms of fuel consumption for both obtaining and applying water [2]. Additionally, watering is supposed to form part of a fugitive dust control plan approved by a regulatory agency. However, there are some practices that are forbidden in road watering for various operational and environmental reasons.
The formation of muddy conditions on roads due to excessive water is strictly forbidden for safety reasons. Water is also not effective in freezing weather conditions and is thus forbidden in such weather. In fact, special agents are required in freezing weather for effective dust removal.
The financial implications of solely depending on water for dust control are considerable. The cost of water procurement alone may amount to $400,000 annually for raw water [3]. However, the application cost may be five to ten times higher due to additional fuel and labor expenses. Studies have found that replacing water with chemical palliatives in lieu of surface application may lead to reduced water consumption by up to 511 million liters each year and diesel consumption by 2.9 million liters [4]. This may translate to multi-million-dollar savings over ten years. New breakthroughs in technology, like bituminous emulsions, assist in stabilizing the base and reducing rolling resistance, which in turn reduces costs and environmental damage.
To sum it all up, though watering may be the most widely used method for dust control, it has its own financial and environmental implications in its day-to-day operations. However, it has been found that using advanced technology in the form of chemicals may be a more sustainable and cost-effective option in the long term.
References
[1] “N.M. Admin. Code § 19.8.20.2050 – AIR RESOURCES PROTECTION | State Regulations | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute.” Accessed: Mar. 05, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-mexico/N-M-Admin-Code-SS-19.8.20.2050
[2] krystalstigander, “The Cost of Water In Mining,” Cypher Environmental. Accessed: Mar. 05, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://cypherenvironmental.com/2024/03/05/the-cost-of-water-in-mining/
[3] “The Cost of Water In Mining – Cypher Environmental.” Accessed: Mar. 05, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://cypherenvironmental.com/2024/03/05/the-cost-of-water-in-mining/
[4] “Post | LinkedIn.” Accessed: Mar. 05, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sharonschoutens_cost-benefit-analysis-for-mine-haul-road-activity-7131995782617931776-FwXf/
