Groundwater Recharge Estimates by Radio-Isotope Method-A Critical Analysis

Abstract

Isotopes have a wide application in groundwater problems like recharge estimates. Though the results of this method are nearly convincing, the concept behind the method is not. The radio-active tracer movement in the unsaturated zone represents only soil moisture transport which is not available for exploitation as groundwater. The exploitable groundwater corresponds to the 'gravitational water' component of the infiltrating waters.