Beyond the doom: Sustainable water management practices of small-scale mining operations

Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) is often implicated as a source of pollution to water systems. In this paper, we explore the management systems formalised small-scale mining operator in Ghana explicate how its operational activities organising routines contribute sustainable practice. Emphasizing bodies play out organising, our study highlights underpinning mechanisms shaping shift environmentally operations. By unpacking complex practices ASM operations, extends understanding sustainability driven emerge comes be identified labelled context an industry historically tagged ‘enemy environment’, consequences that follow. Thus, contrary dominant logic stigmatizing polluting champions, suggests operators could caretakers environment. We conclude by highlighting implications for policy on management.