IAEA is mandated to assist its Member States in using nuclear science and technology for various peaceful purposes, including food and agriculture, human health, marine and terrestrial environments, and water resources. The water resource programme of IAEA aims to increase the global hydrological knowledge base, including a better understanding of the water cycle, and scientific capacity of developing countries to assess water resources. A co-operative project with UNESCO and others has been launched recently to prepare a global assessment of fossil groundwater resources based upon isotope data on the origin and age of groundwater.

IAEA has invested about US$ 30 million in 150 projects in 60 countries to improve water management using isotope hydrology. These projects have helped provide hydrological information on surface and ground-water resources and strengthened human capacity as well as infra-structure for water quality and water resource assessment and management.

Areas of expertise: Nuclear science and technology as it relates to food and agriculture, human health, marine and terrestrial environments, and water resources

Media contact:
Mark Gwozdecky
Public Information Director and Spokesperson
P.O.Box 100
A-1400 Vienna, Austria
Tel: +43 1 2600-21270
Fax: +43 1 2600-29610
E-mail: M.Gwozdecky@iaea.org