Promoting the application of isotope technology to ensure water security

Groundwater is the largest source of fresh water in the world , accounting for 30% of the total global fresh water. Managing and exploiting groundwater in a reasonable manner to serve production and life is a matter of survival for many countries in the world because groundwater has a slow flow and a long recharge time, so it takes a very long time to be fully replenished.

In the context of the world economy as well as Vietnam, over-exploitation for production, daily life, industrial and agricultural activities as well as rapid urbanization and climate change have caused a decline and scarcity of water resources.

Application of isotopes to determine the origin of water

Mr. Trinh Van Giap, Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology said: In recent times, nuclear technology in general and isotope technology in particular have contributed significantly to the sustainable management and exploitation of groundwater resources.

Radioactive isotopes are effectively applied to study and evaluate environmental processes such as surface soil erosion, reservoir sedimentation, seaport or ship channel sedimentation, coastal erosion or sedimentation, diffusion of matter following the water phase in coastal waters...

Using natural isotope-based techniques to assess the age and origin of surface water, groundwater, and processes occurring in the atmospheric hydrological cycle.

The development of science contributes to promoting and solving water resource challenges and the exact path of water resources to build solutions to ensure water security before water resources are depleted and degraded.

Radioactive isotopes in the environment are truly effective "markers" in environmental research in general and water resources research in particular. When understanding the process of isotopic composition changes in the water cycle due to isotope separation, we will know the origin, movement process as well as the retention time or so-called age of groundwater, this is the basis for sustainable management and exploitation of groundwater resources.

Mr. Trinh Anh Duc, Nuclear Training Center shared: Isotope techniques allow scientists to understand the components of the water cycle on Earth, determine the origin of water to help assess the quantity and quality of water more accurately, to come up with solutions for sustainable water use.

In the water cycle on Earth, groundwater is the most difficult component to evaluate, so using naturally occurring isotopes as markers to find out whether groundwater is being replenished, where it comes from, how it moves underground, whether it is easily polluted and subject to climate change...

Water originating from different locations has different isotopic signatures known as “fingerprints,” and scientists use these fingerprints to track the movement of water along its path through the entire water cycle: from evaporation, to precipitation, to infiltration, to drainage and transpiration, then back to the ocean or atmosphere and repeat.

Understanding the age of water will provide solutions to increase the recharge rate for exploited groundwater aquifers. Faced with the reality of water resource depletion, depletion and pollution, the Prime Minister issued Decision 245/QD-TTg approving the Plan for development and application of atomic energy for the period up to 2030, with a vision to 2050, including the application of nuclear technology in meteorological forecasting and water resource investigation.

Specifically, regarding the development and application of radiation and isotopes in the natural resources and environment sector, the general goal by 2030 is to develop the application of nuclear techniques in hydrometeorological monitoring and forecasting; basic investigation of water, geological and mineral resources; environmental protection; and response to climate change.

At the same time, invest in building facilities, equipment and training to develop high-quality human resources in the application of radiation and isotope techniques in the field of resources and environment for research, training and application facilities in a synchronous and modern direction.

International cooperation to protect sustainable water resources

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) plays a pioneering role in developing isotope hydrology as a powerful and effective scientific method for addressing water resources-related issues, supporting Member States in applying and developing expertise in this field.

In addition, Vietnam has also participated in the Global Network on Isotopes in Rainwater (GNIP) for many years and Vietnam has had many observations of isotopes in rainwater conducted by the Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology.

Mr. Nguyen Tuan Khai, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute (Ministry of Science and Technology) and Representative of the RCA Management Agency - Vietnam National Regional Technical Cooperation Project, emphasized: The problem of scarcity and depletion of groundwater resources is a serious challenge, heavily affected by climate change and overexploitation.

In that context, the Regional Technical Cooperation (RCA/IAEA) Asia-Pacific project on “Assessing the effectiveness of artificial recharge for groundwater using isotopic techniques” has focused on the solution of artificial recharge for groundwater and using isotopic techniques as a powerful and irreplaceable scientific tool to help countries understand the origin, path and storage time of groundwater, in order to build sustainable water resource management solutions.

Mr. Nguyen Tuan Khai added: At the Mid-term Review Conference of the Regional Technical Cooperation Project, 14 member countries of the Technical Cooperation Project in the Asia-Pacific region comprehensively assessed the project progress and presented the results of isotope analysis as well as the progress of implementing the pilot "Artificial groundwater recharge-MAR" models. At the same time, focusing on standardizing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for sampling and isotope analysis, agreeing on a detailed action plan for the next phase from 2026-2027, to ensure the project achieves its maximum goals in national sustainable development and regional cooperation on water security.

Mr. Trinh Anh Duc, Nuclear Training Center said: In recent times, the IAEA - VINATOM Cooperation Center (Cooperation Center between the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute) has carried out many research programs such as: Research on the application of isotopic techniques in assessing the relationship between the flow and the water storage layers along the Red River from Son Tay to Hung Yen; Research on determining the age and source of recharge water of the water storage layers in the Southwest region; Research on the use of nuclear techniques to identify the origin and history of pollution of the ecosystem in the coastal area of the Red River estuary; Research on the application of nuclear techniques and related isotopes to determine the origin of sediments and assess the history of erosion in the coastal area of Dinh An.../.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/day-manh-ung-dung-ky-thuat-dong-vi-dam-bao-an-ninh-nguon-nuoc-post1081207.vnp