Clean freshwater is necessary for drinking and sanitation, providing for crops, livestock and industry and sustaining the ecosystems on which all life depends. However, billions of people still lack access to safely managed drinking water and sanitation services. To achieve Goal 6, the world must reduce freshwater pollution by eliminating dumping and minimising the release of hazardous chemicals while supporting communities as they learn to manage increasingly scarce water resources.
Isotope hydrology — a unique tool used to map and manage the world’s groundwater resources by fingerprinting water molecules — allows scientists to determine the age, origin and renewal rate of water. By analysing isotopic compositions, governments can manage aquifers sustainably and detect contamination sources before they reach the public. Nuclear techniques are also applied to treat wastewater, using electron beam technology to destroy industrial pollutants and pathogens, making water safe for reuse in irrigation or industrial processes within water-scarce regions.
