Central West Environment Council president Dr Cilla Kinross said mining activities were using up significant amounts of water supplies.

"'The growing relationship between coal mine water interceptions and mineral production proposals in the Central West is of great concern," she said.

"Climate change predictions for our region indicate less rainfall, increased heat, higher evaporation rates and drier catchments. This is not being factored into mining proposals that threaten water security for everyone else."

She said expansion plans for the Cadia mine near Orange were of concern.

"The issue is there is not enough water to go around. Water doesn't grow on trees," she said.

A CWEC statement said a planned expansion of production at Cadia would require an extra 60 million litres of water per day.

Cadia general manager, Aaron Brannigan said the mine obtained water from a variety of sources including an arrangement with Orange City Council to use Orange's effluent water, on-site storage facilities and water licences.

He said it had an application before the Department of Planning Industry and Environment to increase its processing capacity from 32 to 35 million tonnes per year.

"A surface water impact assessment was conducted as part of this application which identified Cadia will require approximately nine per cent additional water," he said.

However, he said water supply water modelling had indicated Cadia will have sufficient water supply to meet its future needs.

"Cadia's Water Management Plan prioritises the use of recycled water as a first option."

A meeting of the CWEC this month also highlighted regional mining and environmental concerns.

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