O. Kracht 1 , L. Ortega 1 , S. Terzer Wassmuth 1 , K. Zouari 2 & L. J. Araguas 1
1 International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, Austria
2 Ecole Nationale Ingenieurs de Sfax (ENIS), Tunisia
(a) Purpose or objectives and status of study or research hypothesis
The IAEA Water Assessment, Availability and Enhancement approach (IWAVE) is an IAEA-supported needs assessment and isotope hydrology project formulation process. IWAVE was developed to help scientists and policy-makers to identify and fill in knowledge gaps in their national hydrological understanding, and to provide reliable tools for better management of water resources.
(b) Key issue(s) or problem(s) addressed
Used in the proper way, isotope techniques can provide critical insights into the water cycle permitting assessments of changes over time impacting water availability, thereby providing foreknowledge and enabling solutions. The IWAVE concept resulted from the observation few IAEA isotope hydrology technical cooperation projects utilize systematic water assessment approaches. Many projects focus on applying isotopes to local or site-specific problems, often detached from conventional hydrology, and so little beneficial information is gained.
(c) Methodology or approach used
In response to this, IWAVE aims developing member states and regional projects to bring together all relevant stakeholders with interests in ensuring efficacious use and long-term protection of critical water supplies. Cooperative water resource management projects supported with robust isotope hydrology methods thereby help contributing to sustainability assessments and water protection measures that are essential for to achieve water security.
IWAVE comprises several key steps, to (1) identify knowledge gaps in national hydrological data and information, (2) distinguish the expertise, technology and infrastructure support required to address the issues, (3) propose appropriate isotope and nuclear techniques, (4) assist water agencies in obtaining scientific support and technical isotope services from the IAEA, and (6) stimulate collaborations with other national or international organizations.
(d) Results and conclusions derived from the project
In 2010 the IWAVE methodology was first piloted in three member states (Philippines, Sultanate of Oman, Costa Rica), with significant success in raising national hydrological understanding and interagency cooperation. In the course of 2018 and 2019, five African countries applied the IWAVE step-wise analytical framework as part of an IAEA regional project in the Sahel, lensing special focus to promoting good water governance, and building confidence in the quality of data and interpretation as a foundation for water law, regulation and policy. In Latin America IWAVE helped developing a comprehensive action plan for
strengthening analytical and interpretation capabilities. Establishing isotope monitoring networks (GNIP/R) and the use of isotopic tools helped to develop and improve hydrogeological models to characterize recharge processes, the origin of pollution, and the age of groundwater.
(e) Implications of the project relevant to selected conference theme, theory and/or practice
IWAVE employs a collaborative approach to identify key knowledge gaps in national-level hydrological understanding, where nuclear techniques can be beneficially applied to inform comprehensive water resources management.