Application of tritium (3H) as a tracer in seepage studies through hydraulic structures

Water plays a pivotal role in various agricultural and industrial activities through the construction of hydraulic structures like dams, canals or hydroelectric power station. Geophysical logging and tracer study form an integral part of Non Destructive Technique (NDT) towards delineation of probable zones of seepage through hydraulic structures. Application of radioisotope(s) as a tracer has made it a versatile tool in deciphering the path of seepage in integration with other techniques. Tritium (³H) is one such radiotracer which has been used extensively in groundwater hydrology over the past few decades. With the same principle, tritium is used as a tracer for seepage detection studies through hydraulic structures. In this paper a few intricate problem(s) of seepage through hydraulic structure(s) is briefed, where along with chemical tracer(s), tritium was used to determine the direction of seepage, permeability of formation etc.