Tritium and Water Dating Laboratory

The GNS Science Tritium and Water Dating Laboratory is a world leader, with over 45 years of high-sensitivity analytical experience in the dating of groundwater using tritium, CFCs and SF₆.

Our goal is to provide high-sensitivity analytical methods that can be used to understand and manage groundwater resources, and to understand how groundwater dynamics change over time.

Our state-of-the-art facility is located in Lower Hutt, Wellington. We operate strict quality controls, and our samples are free from contamination during processing because of New Zealand's very low-tritium environment, and strict measures to prevent artificial tritium in the lab.

GNS Science tracer programmes include:

• dating groundwater using tritium, CFCs and SF₆and ¹⁴C;
• identifying sources and flowpaths of groundwaters using the stable and radioisotopes ²H, ³H, ¹⁸O, ¹³C, ¹⁴C, ¹⁵N;
• identify landuse impacts on groundwater resources using isotopic and chemistry signature of the water;
• indicate nitrogen sources using ¹⁵N ratios;
• detecting ³²Si for in groundwater and sediments

If you would like more information about our facilities and methods, or would like to discuss possible collaboration with your projects or explore a new applications for water dating, please contact us here.