Cooperation in hydrogeophysics: Enhancing practitioners and institutions’ groundwater assessment capacity, Vientiane Plain, Lao PDR

The lowland floodplains of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) experience prolonged dry seasons characterized by pronounced and common water scarcity, with water supplies increasingly offset with groundwater. Groundwater assessment is still at a very rudimentary stage in Laos, making it difficult to ensure that new water supplies are developed successfully and managed sustainably. The goal of this study is to apply a variety of field hydrogeophysical techniques to this problem and in the process help build and strengthen human and institutional capacity with various stakeholder groups from the government, the university, and the community. The study area focuses on a cross section of the Vientiane Plain (VP) in the Lower Mekong Basin in central Lao PDR to identify and characterize the hydrogeology and groundwater quality. The research collaboration has built and strengthened stakeholder capacity by developing and progressing the hydrogeologic field mapping of the VP. It has provided local undergraduate and postgraduate training opportunities using several different near-surface geophysical and hydrogeologic techniques, some previously untested in Lao PDR. At one of the survey sites, the geophysics has indicated the spatial extent of the shallow aquifer and in the process identified an extensive conductive zone, interpreted as more saline groundwater. Any groundwater development within this or similar zones is likely to be unsuitable as sources for drinking and irrigation water. Engagement with the local village authorities has supported local community members and government to expand groundwater development for rural water supplies. Access to groundwater as a reliable, safe, and secure resource provides an opportunity for strengthening the resilience of farmers to changing climatic conditions. Participatory research collaboration of this kind can positively enhance data and build capacity, which is a required precursor for improving knowledge and management of poorly understood groundwater resources.