Multivariate statistical analysis approach to assess groundwater quality in two selected mandals of Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

Groundwater quality is the major concern all over the world. Natural processes and manmade activities are the prime reasons for the contamination of available water resources. It is crucial to assess the quality of groundwater in areas surrounded by various industries. The present study was carried out to assess the groundwater quality during pre-monsoon and post monsoon seasons of 2016, in two mandals of Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh via multivariate statistical analysis and water quality index method. The present work gains importance in light of the construction of proposed international airport at Bhohapuram and the existence of various industries in Pusapatirega mandal. A total of thirty-seven villages, eighteen from Bhogapuram mandal and seventeen from Pusapatirega mandal were selected for the present study. Factor analysis, linear regression analysis, correlation matrix analysis and cluster analysis tools were used to emphasize the parameters influencing quality of water in the chosen study area. From the analysis reports, it was found that the groundwater of the two mandals under investigation was strongly influenced by EC, TDS, total hardness(TH), Ca+2, Mg+2 and K+. During the two seasons under study, the water quality index value was found to be greater than 100 indicating that the water is unfit for human consumption. Concentration of Ca+2, Mg+2 and K+ were found to be beyond the permissible limits prescribed by BIS (2012). Dissolution of calcium and magnesium bearing minerals, mixing of industrial and household wastes may be the reasons for elevated concentration levels of these parameters.