The International Mine Water Association (IMWA) is a multidisciplinary expert organisation which links up experts of various branches of natural sciences and technology.

IMWA was founded 1979 in Granada/Spain as a result of interest shown in the increasing problems associated with water in the mining industry at the “First International Mine Drainage Symposium”. Since then we have organised a congress every three years. IMWA also holds annual symposia and workshops on topical subjects which have included: Hydrogeology of Coal Basins; Mine Water and Pumping; Acid Mine Water; First African Mine Water Symposium; Water Resources at Risk; Engineering in Karst; Mine Water and Environment.

Membership of IMWA is open to everyone with an interest in mine water and we also distribute to members the journal “Mine Water and the Environment” for which relevant papers are invited for publication and should be sent to the editor.

Concerning mining, mine water, and the environment, there are still many open issues. If this is true on the theoretical level, it is even more true on the performance level. Precisely due to these facts an international debate and exchange of expertise and of ideas is worth its effort.

Dear professional and expert, do not hesitate to take an active part at this debate. With a membership IMWA is offering you the opportunity to do so. You are most warmly invited to contribute and to profit from it as much as you can.