Exploring groundwater hydrochemistry of alluvial aquifers using multi-way modeling

Abstract

A three-way data set pertaining to hydrochemistry of the groundwater of north Indo-Gangetic alluvial plains was analyzed using three-way component analysis method with the purpose of extracting the information on spatial and temporal variation trends in groundwater composition. Three-way data modeling was performed using PARAFAC and Tucker3 models. The models were tested for their stability and goodness of optimal fit using core consistency diagnostic and split-half analysis. Although, a two-component PARAFAC model, explaining 50.47% of data variance, yielded 100% core consistency, it failed to qualify the validation test. Tucker3 model (3, 3, 1) captured 55.18% of the data variance and yielded simple diagonal core with three significant elements, explaining 100% of the core variability. Interpretation of the information obtained through Tucker3 model revealed that the groundwater quality in Khar watershed is mainly dominated by water hardness and related variables, whereas, water composition of the dug wells is dominated by alkalinity and carbonate/bicarbonates. Moreover, shallow groundwater sources in the region are contaminated with nitrate derived from fertilizers application in the region. The shallow aquifers are relatively more contaminated during the post-monsoon season.