Mine Water Atlas of the Zambian Copperbelt (MWAZACO) is a collaborative initiative safeguarding drinking and irrigation water across Zambia’s Copperbelt Province.
MWAZACO – Mine Water Atlas of the Zambian Copperbelt – is a development and environmental protection initiative funded by the Czech Development Agency (CZDA). The project is implemented by Future Resources Development z.s. (FRDA), in partnership with the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU), OPV s.r.o., HYDRO-PUR s.r.o., and key Zambian stakeholders, including the Mines Safety Department (MSD) and Copperbelt University (CBU).
Running from 2025 to 2027, MWAZACO aims to address one of Zambia’s most pressing environmental challenges – the contamination and mismanagement of water resources resulting from intensive mining and metallurgical activities in the Copperbelt Province. The project represents the first stage in a broader national vision to create a Mine Water Atlas of Zambia (MWAZA), which will ultimately cover all mining regions of the country. The current project, MWAZACO, therefore serves as the pilot phase of this long-term vision.
In the future, the MWAZACO model will be scaled up and integrated into the larger MWAZA framework, building a comprehensive nationwide system for monitoring, managing, and reusing mine-affected water resources. The branding and visual identity under the MWAZA logo reflect this long-term ambition and the commitment to sustainable water management across Zambia.
Through the creation of Zambia’s first Mine Water Atlas, MWAZACO will provide an open-access, geo-referenced online platform mapping all sources of mine water pollution, contamination hotspots, and potential sites for water treatment and reuse. In addition, a pilot mine water treatment plant and demonstration farm will be constructed to showcase sustainable and replicable water reuse solutions.
By linking scientific knowledge, modern technology, and community engagement, MWAZACO supports the transition towards safe water use, improved environmental health, and long-term resilience in mining-affected areas, laying the foundation for future national expansion under the MWAZA vision.
