Detecting the leakage source of a reservoir using isotopes

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Hydrogeology
• Geochemistry

Background:

• Effective monitoring of water reservoir leakage is essential for understanding origins and implementing restoration.
• Leakage in water infrastructure can compromise structural integrity and lead to significant water loss.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the sources of water leakage in the Pushihe pumped storage power station.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of a multi-tracer approach for leakage source identification.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a combination of tracers: radon-222 (Rn), oxygen and hydrogen isotopes, anions (nitrate, sulfate, chloride), and temperature.
• Analyzed water samples from leakage points, the reservoir, and surrounding groundwater.
• Interpreted tracer data to differentiate water sources.

Main Results:

• Radon-222 activity levels suggested reservoir water as the primary leakage source.
• Oxygen and hydrogen isotope analysis indicated comparable values between reservoir and leakage water.
• Groundwater contributed up to 36% in specific locations, while reservoir water was dominant elsewhere.
• Anion analysis corroborated reservoir water as the main source of leakage.

Conclusions:

• A multi-tracer approach significantly improves the accuracy of identifying water reservoir leakage sources.
• Reservoir water is the dominant source of leakage in the Pushihe pumped storage power station.
• Findings provide a scientific basis for engineering solutions to ensure dam safety.