As the global push toward electrification intensifies, lithium has become one of the most coveted resources on Earth. Its critical role in powering electric vehicles, smartphones, and renewable energy storage solutions has triggered an unprecedented surge in demand. But beneath the promise of a greener future lies a growing environmental concern—lithium mining’s massive impact on global water resources.
In Chile's Salar de Atacama, one of the world’s largest lithium reserves, mining operations consume around 65% of the region’s water. This high-water consumption is intensifying drought conditions in an already arid environment, threatening local ecosystems and the livelihoods of indigenous communities. The extraction process involves pumping underground brine to the surface and leaving it in expansive evaporation ponds, where water is lost to the atmosphere over months. While effective in lithium recovery, this method has a devastating impact on groundwater levels and surrounding flora and fauna.
In the United States, Nevada’s Thacker Pass lithium project has sparked environmental alarms. Local studies have revealed dramatic groundwater depletion in nearby areas, endangering fragile desert ecosystems and species that depend on consistent water availability. Native communities and environmental organizations are also raising concerns about long-term ecological damage and lack of proper consultation in planning and permitting phases.
Across the globe, Serbia’s proposed lithium mines have also triggered resistance due to the risks of soil degradation, reduced agricultural productivity, and potential contamination of water sources. Agricultural regions near proposed sites are particularly vulnerable to chemical runoff and long-term disruption of their ecosystems. These effects could permanently alter farming viability and water quality in surrounding areas.
With global lithium demand projected to triple by 2040, the need for sustainable mining practices has never been more urgent. Technological innovation offers some hope—newer direct lithium extraction methods promise to reduce water usage significantly. Additionally, enhancing lithium-ion battery recycling could alleviate the pressure on fresh extraction. However, current recycling rates remain low and insufficient to meet growing demand.
The transition to renewable energy must not come at the cost of essential natural resources. Without urgent action to reform extraction practices and invest in circular supply chains, the environmental toll of lithium mining could undermine the very benefits it seeks to bring. Protecting the planet means not just shifting away from fossil fuels, but also ensuring that the solutions we pursue do not create new crises in their wake.