Water Quality, Quantity a Priority, Albemarle Leader Says at Catawba Riverkeeper Event 

Sept. 12, 2024

Ensuring water quality and quantity requires cooperation among industry, communities and  government agencies, Albemarle’s Meredith Bandy said to a recent gathering focused regional water stewardship in North Carolina.  

Catawba Riverkeeper hosted the event, which was sponsored by Albemarle and other stakeholders of the Central Catawba River watershed. Panelists and speakers joined from a variety of sectors – public utilities, private companies, higher education and municipalities. 

Bandy, vice president of investor relations and sustainability, introduced a panel that included emphasizing the company’s commitment to water stewardship. 

“We sit here today in the heart of the ‘Battery Belt’ of the Southeast, just a few miles from our global headquarters in Charlotte and even closer to our Kings Mountain lithium mine project,” she said.  

John Searby, executive director of Catawba Riverkeeper, said, “Part of bringing this event and group together is finding allies in places you haven’t yet seen.”  

Being a good steward of our water resources is a core component of Albemarle’s sustainability strategy. We work with several third-party organizations that inform our priorities and initiatives.  

We have endorsed the United Nations’ Global Compact CEO Water Mandate, and we are committed to continuous improvement of our water management.  

“We work every day with the local communities, governments and regulatory officials and adhere to industry-leading standards to advance water stewardship practices and support responsible and sustainable operations,” Bandy said. 

Because policy can be global, but watersheds are local, cooperation at all levels is essential. 

“We recognize our responsibility to manage the potential effects of our operations on other water users,” says Bandy. “We work to identify, assess, analyze, and manage potential effects on water quality and quantity. Our water management plans are regularly reviewed, and we value collaboration with community partners and government and regulatory entities.”