{"id":51409,"date":"2019-12-01T20:10:38","date_gmt":"2019-12-01T19:10:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edu.danwatch.dk\/?post_type=undersgelse&#038;p=51409"},"modified":"2022-10-03T15:36:05","modified_gmt":"2022-10-03T13:36:05","slug":"how-much-water-is-used-to-make-the-worlds-batteries","status":"publish","type":"undersgelse","link":"https:\/\/edu.danwatch.dk\/en\/undersoegelse\/how-much-water-is-used-to-make-the-worlds-batteries\/","title":{"rendered":"How much water is used to make the world\u2019s batteries?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"51409\" class=\"elementor elementor-51409 elementor-51282\" data-elementor-post-type=\"undersgelse\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-421ce4c1 elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-content-bottom elementor-section-items-bottom elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"421ce4c1\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_video_link&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/wOYVXG9GrfY&quot;,&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;video&quot;,&quot;background_video_start&quot;:0.5,&quot;background_video_end&quot;:9.5,&quot;background_play_on_mobile&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-video-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-video-embed\" role=\"presentation\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7371e428\" data-id=\"7371e428\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-61c8f3de animated-fast elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"61c8f3de\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h6 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">A Danwatch investigation<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-33b9d7bd overskrift-negativ elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"33b9d7bd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How much water is used to make the world\u2019s batteries?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-27edd498\" data-id=\"27edd498\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-38a42d9c elementor-hidden-phone elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"38a42d9c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInRight&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Pipes leading brine to the evaporation ponds and a handful of residue salt left in piles close to the extraction site.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-194a5a0e elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"194a5a0e\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1f8a2dd4\" data-id=\"1f8a2dd4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5b2c041c elementor-widget elementor-widget-template\" data-id=\"5b2c041c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"template.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-template\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-26a54a90 elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"26a54a90\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-155b226f fjernbaggrund\" data-id=\"155b226f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cd01e36 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cd01e36\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>About the investigation<\/h2>\n<p>Danwatch has been to Chile to investigate the country\u2019s growing lithium extraction industry. In the process, we have interviewed numerous scientists, companies, politicians and the people who live closest to the extraction sites.<\/p>\n<p>The investigation was supported by the EU-funded project Make ICT Fair and published in collaboration with Setem.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-47278 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/edu.danwatch.dk\/dw-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Alle-logoer-Make-ICT-Fair-1-1200x405.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"153\" height=\"52\" srcset=\"https:\/\/edu.danwatch.dk\/dw-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Alle-logoer-Make-ICT-Fair-1-1200x405.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/edu.danwatch.dk\/dw-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Alle-logoer-Make-ICT-Fair-1-450x152.jpg 450w, https:\/\/edu.danwatch.dk\/dw-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Alle-logoer-Make-ICT-Fair-1-768x259.jpg 768w, https:\/\/edu.danwatch.dk\/dw-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Alle-logoer-Make-ICT-Fair-1-1536x518.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/edu.danwatch.dk\/dw-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Alle-logoer-Make-ICT-Fair-1-2048x691.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/edu.danwatch.dk\/dw-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Alle-logoer-Make-ICT-Fair-1.jpg 2400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 153px) 100vw, 153px\" \/><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-721d8d12 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"721d8d12\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5c8b7dd\" data-id=\"5c8b7dd\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5616d088 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5616d088\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In the middle of the world&#8217;s driest desert, an enormous area is covered by hundreds of turquoise pools, some as big as 20 football fields. The pools are filled with saliferous brine that has been pumped up from ancient reservoirs in the desert\u2019s subsurface. The brine contains lithium carbonate that can be converted into a light metal, lithium, which is the core of the rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that virtually all computers, phones and electric vehicles use today.<\/p>\n<p>Billions of liters of brine are being pumped up from the substratum of the desert. The two mining companies operating in the Atacama, the Chilean firm SQM and their US counterpart Albemarle, pump up nearly 2,000 liters of brine per second. That\u2019s the equivalent of pumping up 1,209 million liters of saltwater per week, or more than 63 billion liters per year. In addition, the companies use some quantities of freshwater.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-57d0e7a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"57d0e7a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;video&quot;,&quot;background_video_link&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/edu.danwatch.dk\\\/dw-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/11\\\/water_1574680943577.mp4&quot;,&quot;background_play_on_mobile&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-video-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<video class=\"elementor-background-video-hosted\" role=\"presentation\" autoplay muted playsinline loop><\/video>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ccc341f elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-phone\" data-id=\"ccc341f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cac1c20 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"cac1c20\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fe67d1f\" data-id=\"fe67d1f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-371b331 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"371b331\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>FACTS<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b0ffae3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b0ffae3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-xl\">Brine use in Atacama lithium extraction<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-062d3fb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"062d3fb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>2019<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-32666df elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-counter\" data-id=\"32666df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"premium-counter.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"premium-counter premium-counter-area top\" data-duration=\"3000\" data-from-value=\"0\" data-to-value=\"63\" data-delimiter=\".\" data-rounding=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"premium-counter-icon\">\n\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon\" data-animation=\"bounceInDown\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"premium-init-wrapper column\">\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-counter-value-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-counter-init\" id=\"counter-32666df\">0<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-counter-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"premium-counter-title-val\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tbillon liters of water\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-49e71c1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"49e71c1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<pre id=\"tw-target-text\" dir=\"ltr\" data-placeholder=\"Overs\u00e6ttelse\"><span lang=\"en\" tabindex=\"0\">equivalent<\/span> to<\/pre>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-12f6756 elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-counter\" data-id=\"12f6756\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"premium-counter.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"premium-counter premium-counter-area top\" data-duration=\"3000\" data-from-value=\"0\" data-to-value=\"1.6\" data-delimiter=\".\" data-rounding=\"1\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"premium-counter-icon\">\n\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon\" data-animation=\"bounceInDown\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"premium-init-wrapper column\">\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-counter-value-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-counter-init\" id=\"counter-12f6756\">0<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-counter-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"premium-counter-title-val\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tmillion Danish households\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e25c6c4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e25c6c4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5>The mining companies pump up 63,113,852,000 liters of brine per year. In terms of quantities, this corresponds to the annual water consumption of 1.6 million Danish households &#8211; though the brine is too saline for human consumption.<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d668fb6 elementor-hidden-phone\" data-id=\"d668fb6\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-78582c8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"78582c8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f033a62 elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-phone\" data-id=\"f033a62\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3ab1eeb elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"3ab1eeb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6311ad44 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6311ad44\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7b178e92 fjernbaggrund\" data-id=\"7b178e92\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-48becd0a elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"48becd0a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4870943c\" data-id=\"4870943c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-431df135 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"431df135\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4>A water-intensive industry<\/h4>\n<p>When mining companies extract lithium, they pump up the brine and allow the desert\u2019s strong solar radiation to evaporate up to 95 percent of the water. The lithium is then separated from the residual product via a chemical process and converted into the compounds that are used in rechargeable batteries.<\/p>\n<p>Although the brine is not suitable for human consumption, its absence can have a major impact on the environment and water resources of the Atacama Desert, as the water that evaporates exits the desert\u2019s water cycle. And that is a significant amount of water from an area<a href=\"https:\/\/edu.danwatch.dk\/en\/?post_type=undersgelse&#038;p=51384\"> where local residents are already suffering from water shortages<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>There is, however, considerable disagreement on exactly how much of the desert\u2019s water is used to produce the lithium inside a computer, a telephone or an electric car.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0a8dcd6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0a8dcd6\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f17d498 elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-phone\" data-id=\"f17d498\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1855704 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"1855704\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e4bf2c5\" data-id=\"e4bf2c5\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6f52730 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6f52730\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>FACTS<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3fb980a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3fb980a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-xl\">Batteries contain this much lithium<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-4ed827a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4ed827a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-56c2c47\" data-id=\"56c2c47\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bbb2738 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bbb2738\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Standard  mobile phone<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d2a7699 elementor-view-default elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"d2a7699\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;,&quot;_animation_delay&quot;:500}\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-mobile-alt\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-590087a elementor-widget elementor-widget-counter\" data-id=\"590087a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"counter.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter-title\">gram<\/div>\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter-number-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number-prefix\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number\" data-duration=\"2000\" data-to-value=\"0.6\" data-from-value=\"0\" data-delimiter=\",\">0<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number-suffix\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-4b6b0ce\" data-id=\"4b6b0ce\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c371dff elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c371dff\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Standard  laptop<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ec43d45 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ec43d45\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>(60Wh)<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-23b20c1 elementor-view-default elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"23b20c1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;,&quot;_animation_delay&quot;:1000}\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-laptop\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-62fbee6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-counter\" data-id=\"62fbee6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"counter.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter-title\">gram<\/div>\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter-number-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number-prefix\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number\" data-duration=\"2000\" data-to-value=\"4.8\" data-from-value=\"0\" data-delimiter=\",\">0<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number-suffix\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-4638942 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4638942\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-d39ecf2\" data-id=\"d39ecf2\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e852a5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9e852a5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Standard electric car<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5dcfa05 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5dcfa05\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u00a0(75 kWh)<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aae5029 animated-slow elementor-view-default elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"aae5029\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;zoomIn&quot;,&quot;_animation_tablet&quot;:&quot;zoomIn&quot;,&quot;_animation_delay&quot;:1000}\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-car\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7b883a9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-counter\" data-id=\"7b883a9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"counter.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter-title\">gram<\/div>\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter-number-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number-prefix\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number\" data-duration=\"2000\" data-to-value=\"7500\" data-from-value=\"0\">0<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number-suffix\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e3ec0b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9e3ec0b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5>Among the experts that Danwatch has consulted, there is some disagreement on how to accurately calculate the amount of lithium used, since lithium exists in batteries as part of chemical compounds. We calculate lithium quantities following recommendations by Jeff Dahn, Professor in the Department of Physics &amp; Atmospheric Science and the Department of Chemistry at Dalhousie University in Canada, who is recognized as one of the main developers of the lithium-ion battery that Tesla uses.<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ea51034\" data-id=\"ea51034\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-547b580a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"547b580a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d604cb fjernbaggrund\" data-id=\"d604cb\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5802d01d elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"5802d01d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e4d932 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5e4d932\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>What is brine?<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Brine is a very saline type of ground water<\/li>\n<li>The brine beneath the Atacama is around 70 percent water and 30 percent salt and other components &#8211; 10 times as saline as the ocean, according to the lithium mining company Albemarle<\/li>\n<li>The Atacama brine contains around 0.15 percent lithium<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-be12a42\" data-id=\"be12a42\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-45623ef3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"45623ef3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Scientists, research studies and companies that Danwatch has consulted present estimates ranging from 400 to 2 million liters of water per kilo of lithium.<\/p>\n<p>The US mining company Albemarle submitted the lowest figure: 400 liters of water per kilo of lithium. However, the company will not tell Danwatch how it reached that number and thus how much water it estimates evaporates in the process.<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, Danwatch has been unable to obtain the calculations behind the estimates that have appeared in several reports that millions of liters of water are used to produce a single kilo of lithium. While some researchers have estimated that figure to be more accurate than Albemarle&#8217;s 400 liters, others say Albemarle\u2019s sounds more realistic.<\/p>\n<p>SQM has not responded to Danwatch&#8217;s requests for information about how much brine they use to produce lithium.<\/p>\n<h4>Polluting the drinking water<\/h4>\n<p>According to figures from the Chilean government&#8217;s Committee of Non-Metallic Mining, during the period 2000-2015, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mch.cl\/2018\/09\/26\/informe-advierte-sobreexplotacion-cuenca-agua-clave-grandes-mineras\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the amount of water that was extracted from the Atacama was 21 percent higher than the natural flow of water to the area via rain and meltwater<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>However, the mining companies maintain that extraction from the brine reservoirs will not affect the area&#8217;s freshwater resources.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6773312 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6773312\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-56c7919 fjernbaggrund\" data-id=\"56c7919\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a8a61d3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"a8a61d3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d6a1bfa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d6a1bfa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div data-id=\"0196a78\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<h2>What is a lithium-ion battery?<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>A lithium-ion battery is a rechargable battery that uses lithium ions as a key component of its electrochemistry. Sony was the first to release commercial lithium-ion batteries in 1991.<\/li>\n<li>The battery has one of the highest energy densities of any battery type today. Therefore it is suitable for items like cell phones, laptops and EVs.<\/li>\n<li>Currently, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dr.dk\/nyheder\/viden\/teknologi\/verdens-stoerste-batteri-kan-forsyne-storby-med-stroem-i-seks-timer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">mega lithium batteries are being developed to store massive amounts of sun and wind energy<\/a> \u2013 storing power has until now been one of the major obstacles in a transition to renewables.<\/li>\n<li>In 2019 the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was handed to John Goodenough, Stanley Whittingham and Akira Yoshino for the development of the lithium ion battery \u2013 amongst other things, because it can \u201cstore significant amounts of energy from solar and wind power, making possible a fossil fuel-free society.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Source: Danish Technological Institute, Battery University, Nobelprize.org<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e941ee2\" data-id=\"e941ee2\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-98fd23b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"98fd23b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>&#8220;The salty, mineral rich brine is not suitable for agricultural or potable use, and we work very closely with the communities to ensure that we operate in a sustainable way,&#8221; wrote Hailey Quinn, Albemarle\u2019s External Communications Manager, in an email to Danwatch.<\/p>\n<p>But according to several researchers that Danwatch has consulted, the subsurface brine deposits exist in relation to other water resources in the Atacama \u2014 including the freshwater sources that the desert\u2019s indigenous communities derive their water from. This means that the total amount of water will decrease concurrently with the brine extraction \u2014 and that, in the long run, freshwater risks being mixed with saliferous brine and thus becoming undrinkable.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen you pump up the brine, you simultaneously force freshwater into motion, which ends up mixing with the brine. The freshwater then gets an increasing salinity, which has consequences for the local residents,&#8221; says Ingrid Garc\u00e9s, who researches the Atacama salt flat as a professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Mineral Processing at the Chilean University of Antofagasta.<\/p>\n<h4>Almost no data<\/h4>\n<p>According to Stephan Lutter, a professor at the Institute for Ecological Economics at the Vienna University of Economics and Business, who has researched water-intensive mining, this is a general problem with \u201cwater-mining\u201d. He points out that similar industries often affect the water resources of other reservoirs they do not pump directly from, as the underground water deposits are connected.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It affects both the local population and the environment,&#8221; Stephan Lutter says.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this year, researchers at Arizona State University&#8217;s School of Sustainability published <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0303243419300996?via=ihub\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the most comprehensive independent study<\/a> on the issue so far. It identified a clear negative correlation between lithium extraction and the vegetation and soil moisture of the Atacama.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-45ea8bbf elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-items-bottom elementor-section-content-bottom elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"45ea8bbf\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-313e63a8\" data-id=\"313e63a8\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7bdadc23 elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-phone elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7bdadc23\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInRight&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Atacama is one of the best places in the world to conduct astronomical observations &#8211; amongst other things because of its dry air and nearly nonexistent cloud cover. Telescopes from all over the world are placed in the desert.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-766db52 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"766db52\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7d56b7d fjernbaggrund\" data-id=\"7d56b7d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-744d3a4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"744d3a4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-07bd743\" data-id=\"07bd743\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-30ccef0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"30ccef0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Otherwise, though, there is no evidence as to whether freshwater and brine are mixing beneath the Atacama\u2019s subsoil. And this lack of information is a major part of the problem with lithium extraction, according to Ingrid Garc\u00e9s and Stephan Lutter.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Especially with lithium, there is almost no data, even though it is mined from the driest desert on Earth,&#8221; says Stephan Lutter.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1a07f053 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1a07f053\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-631e7ab6\" data-id=\"631e7ab6\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-68a8b1ac elementor-widget elementor-widget-template\" data-id=\"68a8b1ac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"template.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-template\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While the Atacama Desert experiences water scarcity, lithium companies pump billions of liters of brine from the area&#8217;s subsoil.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":97,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_gspb_post_css":"","_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","ghostkit_customizer_options":"","ghostkit_custom_css":"","ghostkit_custom_js_head":"","ghostkit_custom_js_foot":"","ghostkit_typography":"","_ppma_block_editor_authors":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"branche":[450,446,456],"serie":[1817],"genre":[438],"land":[440],"serie_fokus":[],"forside":[1717],"tema":[620,621,624],"virksomhed":[1814,1809,138,1811,1812,1813,3279,1808,1810,1815],"ppma_author":[2960],"class_list":["post-51409","undersgelse","type-undersgelse","status-publish","hentry","branche-chemical","branche-energy","branche-technology","serie_el_forside-devices-draining-the-desert","genre-investigation","land-chile-en","forside-artikel-normal","tema-environment","tema-indigenous-peoples","tema-right-to-water","virksomhed-a123-systems","virksomhed-albemarle","virksomhed-apple","virksomhed-bmw","virksomhed-johnson-matthey-battery-systems","virksomhed-lg-chem","virksomhed-panasonic","virksomhed-sqm","virksomhed-tesla","virksomhed-umicore","author-mobdanwatch-dk"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"branche":[{"value":450,"label":"Chemical"},{"value":446,"label":"Energy"},{"value":456,"label":"IT and technology"}],"serie_el_forside":[{"value":1817,"label":"Devices draining the desert"}],"genre":[{"value":438,"label":"Investigation"}],"land":[{"value":440,"label":"Chile"}],"forside":[{"value":1717,"label":"Artikel (normal)"}],"tema":[{"value":620,"label":"Climate &amp; Environment"},{"value":621,"label":"Indigenous peoples"},{"value":624,"label":"Right to water"}],"virksomhed":[{"value":1814,"label":"A123 Systems"},{"value":1809,"label":"Albemarle"},{"value":138,"label":"Apple"},{"value":1811,"label":"BMW"},{"value":1812,"label":"Johnson Matthey Battery Systems"},{"value":1813,"label":"LG Chem"},{"value":3279,"label":"Panasonic"},{"value":1808,"label":"SQM"},{"value":1810,"label":"Tesla"},{"value":1815,"label":"Umicore"}],"author":[{"value":2960,"label":"Mie Obbek\u00e6r"}]},"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":{"display_name":"Mie Obbek\u00e6r","author_link":"https:\/\/edu.danwatch.dk\/author\/mobdanwatch-dk\/"},"comment_info":"","evt_samarbejdspartner_logo":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edu.danwatch.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/undersoegelse\/51409","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edu.danwatch.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/undersoegelse"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edu.danwatch.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/undersgelse"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edu.danwatch.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/97"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/edu.danwatch.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/undersoegelse\/51409\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edu.danwatch.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51409"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edu.danwatch.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51409"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edu.danwatch.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51409"},{"taxonomy":"branche","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edu.danwatch.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/branche?post=51409"},{"taxonomy":"serie_el_forside","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edu.danwatch.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/serie?post=51409"},{"taxonomy":"genre","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edu.danwatch.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/genre?post=51409"},{"taxonomy":"land","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edu.danwatch.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/land?post=51409"},{"taxonomy":"serie_fokus","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edu.danwatch.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/serie_fokus?post=51409"},{"taxonomy":"forside","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edu.danwatch.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/forside?post=51409"},{"taxonomy":"tema","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edu.danwatch.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tema?post=51409"},{"taxonomy":"virksomhed","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edu.danwatch.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/virksomhed?post=51409"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edu.danwatch.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=51409"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}