Figure 4 – Optimal water network for scenario 2045 4. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates the strategic value of shared desalinated water infrastructure as a longterm planning pathway for mining operations located in water-scarce regions. By applying a participatory and spatially explicit decision-support framework to the Caserones mining operation under two future planning horizons (2035 and 2045), the analysis shows that coordinated, regionalscale water supply solutions can be rigorously evaluated within an integrated structure that simultaneously considers mining demand, existing infrastructure, spatial constraints, and community water provision. Across both temporal scenarios, shared infrastructure consistently emerges as the organising backbone of the regional supply system. While the functional role of desalinated water evolves from a complementary source in the medium term to the dominant and ultimately sole supply source in the long term, the overall network topology and spatial configuration remain largely stable. Structural modifications are observed only under long-term production growth scenarios that require system expansion, leading to the addition of new desalination capacity while preserving the main corridor and core supply structure. The low variability observed in the primary regional corridor reflects the optimisation consistent preference for leveraging existing infrastructure and established access routes, thereby reducing construction complexity and logistical constraints. Sensitivity analyses further confirm the robustness of the fundamental network configuration under variations in climate-related and social assumptions. When constraints on water availability are introduced, the system adapts primarily through modifications in access to alternative desalination plants or through the activation of exchange mechanisms with other users. However, these adjustments occur within the same regional framework, and the central supply corridor connecting desalinated sources to the mining operation remains unchanged. This distinction between stable strategic outcomes and adaptive tactical responses underscores the strength of the framework for supporting early-stage infrastructure planning under uncertainty. From a territorial and environmental perspective, the explicit integration of community water provision and spatial routing constraints enables the evaluation of infrastructure layouts in relation to local settlements and environmentally sensitive areas. Although quantitative impact metrics are not disclosed due to data confidentiality, the results qualitatively
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