As lithium projects move from resource to production, the challenge lies in how brines and process streams are treated, managed and converted into battery-grade materials at scale. The ability to handle complex water chemistry and integrate efficient processing systems is increasingly defining recovery rates, operating costs and delivery timelines. This session explores how processing and water management are shaping which projects scale ' and which don't. ' Where are the key bottlenecks in brine treatment, concentration and downstream processing? ' How do water chemistry and impurity management impact recovery rates and product quality? ' How do processing challenges differ across brine, hard rock and DLE projects? ' How are integrated processing and water management solutions improving project economics and timelines? ' Where are projects falling short when moving from pilot to commercial scale? ' What does this mean for the scalability and competitiveness of global lithium supply?