Table 6.2
Continental Water Consumption in Copper Mining by Process and Region
Unit: Liters per second · Cochilco, Anuario Cochilco 2025 · 2009 to 2025
| Series | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arica and Parinacota Region | |||||||||||||||||
| Concentration | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.a. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hydrometallurgy (leaching) | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | 3.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mine (4) | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Smelter and refinery | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Others (5) | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | 0.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| TOTAL | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | 4.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tarapaca Region | |||||||||||||||||
| Concentration | 996.7 | 951.5 | 886.9 | 902.2 | 905.2 | 905 | 905 | 862 | 844.1 | 935 | 727 | 940 | 803 | 743.2 | 810.6 | 883.7 | 729 |
| Hydrometallurgy (leaching) | 179.3 | 188.8 | 140.4 | 169.6 | 130.9 | 163 | 128.4 | 87.1 | 90.5 | 67.9 | 57.1 | 120.3 | 76.3 | 75.4 | 50.1 | 0 | 0.3 |
| Mine (4) | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | 43.9 | 71.6 | 77.4 | 67.8 | 23.6 | 59.6 | 68.4 | 91.2 | 66.9 | 42.4 | 31.4 |
| Smelter and refinery | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Others (5) | 99.1 | 272.6 | 260.9 | 289.3 | 284.1 | 273 | 94.7 | 72.1 | 131.6 | 122.8 | 61 | 52.7 | 100.7 | 124.7 | 43.2 | 28.7 | 22.1 |
| TOTAL | 1,275.1 | 1,412.9 | 1,288.2 | 1,361.1 | 1,320.2 | 1,341 | 1,171.9 | 1,092.8 | 1,143.6 | 1,193.5 | 868.7 | 1,172.6 | 1,048.4 | 1,034.4 | 970.8 | 954.7 | 782.8 |
| Antofagasta Region | |||||||||||||||||
| Concentration | 3,373.2 | 3,241.5 | 3,081.2 | 3,271 | 3,289.2 | 3,226.7 | 3,201.6 | 2,653.1 | 2,329.7 | 2,063.6 | 2,112.6 | 1,620.6 | 2,137.4 | 1,946.6 | 1,844.4 | 2,369.8 | 1,866.4 |
| Hydrometallurgy (leaching) | 1,441 | 1,328.9 | 1,387.7 | 1,002.3 | 1,368.8 | 1,350.7 | 1,595.5 | 1,479.4 | 1,343.9 | 1,220.3 | 1,360.9 | 1,270.4 | 1,039.6 | 973.9 | 967 | 760 | 808.4 |
| Mine (4) | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | 225.4 | 225.2 | 284.4 | 251.7 | 223.5 | 222.7 | 263.3 | 236.1 | 229.9 | 299.1 | 306.8 |
| Smelter and refinery | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | 221 | 294 | 270.5 | 255.4 | 228.9 | 242.8 | 220 | 215.2 | 230.7 | 220.2 | 157.4 | 203.5 | 211 |
| Others (5) | 936.7 | 975.8 | 780.8 | 679.1 | 107 | 553 | 171 | 261 | 277.9 | 264.4 | 305.2 | 242 | 261 | 250.3 | 348.8 | 103 | 139.9 |
| TOTAL | 5,750.9 | 5,546.2 | 5,249.7 | 4,952.4 | 4,986 | 5,424.4 | 5,464 | 4,874 | 4,464.7 | 4,042.8 | 4,222.2 | 3,570.9 | 3,932 | 3,627.1 | 3,547.5 | 3,735.3 | 3,332.6 |
| Atacama Region | |||||||||||||||||
| Concentration | 1,201 | 1,266.2 | 1,207.5 | 1,135.7 | 1,121.2 | 882.3 | 789 | 995.2 | 897.5 | 811.4 | 911 | 891.3 | 814 | 840.2 | 600.4 | 526.7 | 800.3 |
| Hydrometallurgy (leaching) | 152.9 | 165.3 | 168 | 134.3 | 157.8 | 99.6 | 54.2 | 71.6 | 61.1 | 49.3 | 44 | 57.3 | 61.5 | 46.4 | 56.3 | 38 | 60.4 |
| Mine (4) | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | 15.7 | 19 | 39.8 | 48.3 | 21.1 | 17.7 | 18.2 | 35.6 | 34.4 | 50.3 | 45.8 |
| Smelter and refinery | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | 80.2 | 77.4 | 68 | 116.2 | 69.1 | 72 | 48.5 | 42.3 | 94.7 | 49.2 | 36.5 | 34.1 | 18.9 |
| Others (5) | 296 | 235 | 260.2 | 353.5 | 95 | 389.7 | 124.1 | 76.7 | 78.7 | 92.7 | 104.2 | 92.3 | 111.7 | 87.5 | 81.3 | 28.3 | 43.4 |
| TOTAL | 1,649.9 | 1,666.5 | 1,635.7 | 1,623.5 | 1,454.2 | 1,449 | 1,051 | 1,278.8 | 1,146.3 | 1,073.6 | 1,128.7 | 1,100.9 | 1,100.1 | 1,058.8 | 808.8 | 677.4 | 968.8 |
| Coquimbo Region | |||||||||||||||||
| Concentration | 479.1 | 793.5 | 800.9 | 902.9 | 701.6 | 885.7 | 917.9 | 984.9 | 793.7 | 803.7 | 825.2 | 958.4 | 1,195.5 | 1,104.7 | 1,013.6 | 1,042.7 | 998.3 |
| Hydrometallurgy (leaching) | 33.9 | 24.9 | 3.9 | 11.7 | 6.1 | 7.3 | 13.5 | 53.5 | 55.6 | 7.9 | 1.8 | 9.9 | 9.1 | 27 | 16.4 | 2.3 | 5.7 |
| Mine (4) | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | 67.9 | 77.4 | 92.8 | 98.7 | 80.5 | 77.6 | 80.8 | 90.9 | 94.3 | 69.7 | 66.6 |
| Smelter and refinery | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Others (5) | 20.6 | 21 | 152.9 | 108 | 376.9 | 92.6 | 14 | 18.2 | 36.2 | 20.8 | 24.4 | 25.7 | 47.2 | 65.1 | 36.4 | 49.9 | 47.3 |
| TOTAL | 533.6 | 839.4 | 957.7 | 1,022.6 | 1,084.6 | 985.6 | 1,013.3 | 1,133.9 | 978.4 | 931.2 | 931.9 | 1,071.5 | 1,332.6 | 1,287.7 | 1,160.6 | 1,164.6 | 1,117.9 |
| Valparaiso Region | |||||||||||||||||
| Concentration | 750.6 | 947.1 | 1,034 | 997 | 1,065.6 | 1,140.5 | 1,038.1 | 1,023.8 | 954.5 | 819.2 | 871.2 | 818.6 | 709.9 | 756.3 | 723.4 | 919.5 | 832 |
| Hydrometallurgy (leaching) | 96.1 | n.d. | 76 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 0 | 33.3 | 4.4 | 16.4 | 36.4 | 14.6 | 6.6 | 8.6 | 16.3 | 10.6 | 11 | 9.5 |
| Mine (4) | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | 80.4 | 23.9 | 26.9 | 52.6 | 21.5 | 31.2 | 37.7 | 29.2 | 27.2 | 20.1 | 44.8 |
| Smelter and refinery | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | 114.3 | 79.4 | 51.4 | 51.6 | 71.8 | 75.4 | 69.3 | 67.5 | 50.8 | 27.5 | 22.7 | 1.9 | 4.6 |
| Others (5) | 0 | 146.9 | 0 | 76.1 | 270 | 218 | 25.4 | 31.9 | 25.9 | 16 | 27.1 | 13.2 | 101.1 | 46.9 | 68.6 | 158.6 | 162.5 |
| TOTAL | 846.7 | 1,094 | 1,110 | 1,075.4 | 1,452.3 | 1,437.9 | 1,228.6 | 1,135.6 | 1,095.6 | 999.7 | 1,003.7 | 937 | 908.2 | 876.2 | 852.5 | 1,111.1 | 1,053.5 |
| Santiago Metropolitan Region | |||||||||||||||||
| Concentration | 1,403 | 1,508 | 417 | 589 | 683.8 | 602.5 | 595.7 | 804.5 | 927.4 | 529.8 | 534 | 523.3 | 869.4 | 784 | 743 | 607.7 | 594.5 |
| Hydrometallurgy (leaching) | 265 | 118 | 1.1 | 54 | 75 | 70.5 | 70 | 118 | 0 | 219 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 52.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Mine (4) | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | 18.1 | 30.9 | 29.3 | 29 | 54 | 29.1 | 32 | 26.9 | 20.3 | 26 | 25.8 |
| Smelter and refinery | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Others (5) | 0 | 0 | 169.9 | 42 | 35.2 | 37.9 | 24.2 | 24.8 | 15 | 4.4 | 14 | 0 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 13.4 | 3.1 | 3.1 |
| TOTAL | 1,668 | 1,626 | 588 | 685 | 794 | 710.9 | 708.1 | 978.2 | 971.6 | 782.2 | 702 | 552.4 | 903 | 811.8 | 829.6 | 636.8 | 623.4 |
| O'Higgins Region | |||||||||||||||||
| Concentration | 520.5 | 435.9 | 1,429 | 1,392.4 | 1,312.3 | 1,304.4 | 1,741 | 1,883.1 | 1,978.3 | 1,858.6 | 1,066.1 | 1,585.8 | 1,943 | 1,659.3 | 1,759.8 | 2,141.5 | 2,167.4 |
| Hydrometallurgy (leaching) | 16 | 30.4 | 0.7 | 10 | 10 | 10.4 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 31.1 | 22.4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 52.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Mine (4) | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | 60 | 60.8 | 42.7 | 51.9 | 70.2 | 51.8 | 53.8 | 48.5 | 50.3 | 96 | 99.4 |
| Smelter and refinery | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | 150 | 100 | 100 | 185.8 | 139.5 | 106 | 87.9 | 93.1 | 113.6 | 130.3 | 99.4 | 125.6 | 131.9 |
| Others (5) | 9.4 | 0 | 305.4 | 256.3 | 155.7 | 183 | 102.2 | 99.8 | 99 | 106 | 96.1 | 121.3 | 137.8 | 60.2 | 228 | 58.8 | 43.3 |
| TOTAL | 545.9 | 466.3 | 1,735.1 | 1,658.7 | 1,628 | 1,597.8 | 2,013.2 | 2,237.6 | 2,267.5 | 2,153.5 | 1,342.7 | 1,852 | 2,248.2 | 1,898.2 | 2,189.9 | 2,421.9 | 2,442 |
| National Total | |||||||||||||||||
| Concentration | 8,724.1 | 9,143.7 | 8,856.5 | 9,190.2 | 9,078.9 | 8,947.1 | 9,188.4 | 9,206.7 | 8,725.2 | 7,821.4 | 7,047.1 | 7,337.9 | 8,472.2 | 7,834.2 | 7,495.2 | 8,491.6 | 7,987.9 |
| Hydrometallurgy (leaching) | 2,184.2 | 1,856.3 | 1,777.8 | 1,384.2 | 1,751 | 1,705 | 1,905 | 1,821.9 | 1,575.6 | 1,631.9 | 1,600.7 | 1,464.5 | 1,195.1 | 1,138.9 | 1,205.7 | 811.2 | 884.3 |
| Mine (4) | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | 511.3 | 508.9 | 593.4 | 600 | 494.3 | 489.7 | 554.2 | 558.4 | 523.2 | 603.6 | 620.7 |
| Smelter and refinery | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | 565.5 | 550.8 | 489.9 | 608.9 | 509.3 | 496.2 | 425.7 | 418.1 | 489.9 | 427.2 | 316 | 365.1 | 366.5 |
| Others (5) | 1,361.8 | 1,651.3 | 1,930.1 | 1,804.3 | 1,323.9 | 1,747.8 | 555.6 | 584.5 | 664.3 | 627 | 632.1 | 547.2 | 761.1 | 635.7 | 819.7 | 430.3 | 461.7 |
| TOTAL | 12,270.1 | 12,651.3 | 12,564.4 | 12,378.7 | 12,719.3 | 12,950.7 | 12,650.1 | 12,730.9 | 12,067.8 | 11,176.5 | 10,199.9 | 10,257.4 | 11,472.5 | 10,594.4 | 10,359.8 | 10,701.9 | 10,321 |
Notes of the table
- (1) La metodología de la encuesta implementada no permite determinar con precisión la distribución del uso de agua continental por proceso, debido a que el agua utilizada en una determinada tarea puede corresponder a una combinación de agua continental extraída, agua previamente tratada y/o agua recuperada desde otra tarea o subtarea. A partir de 2015, esta distribución se estima proporcionalmente según la participación de la extracción de agua continental de cada operación. / The survey methodology implemented does not allow for the precise allocation of continental water use by process, as the water used in a given task may consist of a combination of extracted continental water, previously treated water, and/or water recovered from another task or subtask. From 2015 onwards, this allocation is estimated proportionally based on each operation’s share of continental water withdrawals.
- (2) En esta edición, la serie histórica fue estandarizada de acuerdo con la metodología del ICMM. En consecuencia, el ítem "Cesión o venta de agua a terceros" dejó de considerarse dentro de las categorías de consumo, ya que corresponde a una descarga de agua entregada a terceros. / In this edition, the historical data series has been standardized in accordance with the ICMM methodology. Consequently, the item "Water transferred or sold to third parties" is no longer considered part of water consumption categories, as it corresponds to a water discharge supplied to third parties.
- (3) Se considera agua continental aquella proveniente de fuentes superficiales, subterráneas o adquirida de terceros, siempre que su origen corresponda a agua continental. Se excluye el agua de mar, tanto salada como desalinizada. / Continental water is defined as water from surface water sources, groundwater sources, or acquired from third parties, provided that its origin is continental. Seawater, both saline and desalinated, is excluded.
- (4) A partir de 2015, el ítem "Otros" se desagregó, incorporándose el ítem "Mina", el cual también considera el consumo de agua asociado a la evaporación generada por la supresión de polvo en caminos. / Starting in 2015, the "Others" category was disaggregated with the addition of the "Mine" category, which also includes water consumption associated with evaporation resulting from road dust suppression.
- (5) El ítem "Otros", hasta el año 2014, consideraba el consumo de agua en la mina para la supresión de polvo en caminos, agua potable consumida en campamentos y consumo asociado a servicios auxiliares. / The "Others" category, until 2014, included water consumption at the mine for road dust suppression, potable water consumption in camps, and consumption associated with ancillary services.
- n.d. Datos no disponibles debido a cambios en el formato de la encuesta. / Data not available due to changes in the survey format.
- n.a. No aplica. / Not applicable.
Source stated in the table
Elaborado por la Comisión Chilena del Cobre (COCHILCO), en base a información reportada por las empresas mediante encuesta anual. / Prepared by the Chilean Copper Commission (COCHILCO), based on information reported by companies through an annual survey.
Source: Chilean Copper Commission (Cochilco), Cochilco, Anuario Cochilco 2025 (XLSX), 2026. Read on Oct 6, 2026.
n.d.: no data · n.a.: not applicable · “< 1”: less than one unit.