An integrated approach for aquifer characterization and groundwater productivity evaluation in the Vientiane Basin, Lao PDR
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Abstract
The Vientiane Basin is at the center of the social-economic zone of Lao PDR so there is a high water demand which was estimated at householder consumption of about 100 liters/day/person. There are initiatives to enforce regulations for groundwater management but the data has insufficient. Hydrogeological characterization is one of the indicators and basic data to groundwater productivity evaluation. This study develops a pilot hydrogeological characterization in the Vientiane Basin followed by a Guide and a Standard Legend of the International Association of Hydrogeologists and methods of Thailand with integrated data on geology and hydrogeology from several sources by using the Geographic Information System tool for the creation of hydrogeological characterization maps and applies hydrogeology units of Thailand. The most significant features are discovered in the Xaysomboun formation (K2xb or K2sb) and some areas indicate brackish and saline groundwater. Similarly, the Thangon formation (K2tn) includes three-layers such as K2tn1, K2tn2, and K2tn3 of which K2tn1 is salty water. K2tn has some parts in the center of the Xaythany and Hadxayfong District where there is high groundwater salinity (TDS >1,500 mg/l) at shallow depths with low groundwater potential of about less than 2 m3/hr. Chathaboury and Hadxayfong Districts are near the Mekong River and there is a higher groundwater potential of >20 m3/hr and TDS <500 mg/l. Groundwater potential at the downstream of this basin or along the Mekong River or Transboundary aquifer between the Udon-Sakon Nakorn Basin (Thailand) and Vientiane Basin has a relatively high potential of 10 to >20 m3/hr and is also one of the important freshwaters resources in the Vientiane Basin.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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